…Through Blind Eyes…
…Chapter V…
"Turns of Endearment Pt 3"
"…never forget who you are…," mumbled a half-awake boy whom instantaneously fell right back to sleep with nothing on his unconscious mind.
But his body begged to differ. Though he tossed and turned throughout the wake of night, the boy's slumber was undeterred.
"Zu-zu-zu-zu-Zuko!" a voice echoed from him afar. Its tone – a plea of help plagued with a tint of command that was a disparity from the serenity around the boy.
The child sprang up promptly as a hint of fear struck him. A shudder of apprehension filled him as a space of silence reigned once more. Yet curiosity masked his trepidation. Zuko timidly crawled out of the safety of his bed and stared down the hallway half-determined to see what was there.
When he realized that there was only darkness among him, the boy shook his head, lying to himself that said voice was merely an auditory hallucination, probably derived from a lack of sleep. Convinced that he had solved the matter, Zuko barely managed to arrive onto his bedside before he collapsed from exhaustion.
"Zuko!"
A ghost!
Eyes instantly widening to the shriek of his name, the boy shielded himself with a pillow on top of his head, muffling out his hearing to a dull silence but that achieved nothing.
Auditory barrages shrouded his head continuously repeating the same word over and over again, progressively louder.
"Zuko! Zuko! Zuko! Zuko"
I'm going crazy…I must be.
The voices didn't cease but instead recurred his name in a faster fashion similar to that of a chant.
"Shut up!" screamed the boy, covering his ears with his hands and squeezing his eyes shut. There was no voice then.
As Zuko slowly unclenched his eyes to the enjoyable monotony and peace of silence, a disturbing sight came into view. No longer was he within the shelter of the bed covers and pillows but in some forlorn hallway staring at two people – one of which had backed up against a pillar, lying upon the ground vulnerably. The other held a dagger, stained with blood.
Gasping, Zuko realized that the scene took place within his own home, and the blood had originated from two helmed guards who limped against the wall, blood spilled from protrusions in the stomach and head.
"Please," begged a woman in the utmost state of fright, "please spare me. Spare me. I meant no intrusion. Please, have clemency; have mercy. Please…please…" Tears streaming down her face and closing her eyes, the woman concealed her mouth with one of her hands, making the sound barely audible. "Please, Azula, please. I won't tell a soul, please…please…let me go. I only came to find out the truth – only the truth. Please…please…please"
"Azula! What are you doing?" shouted the child who was watching from a distance. However, his existence seemed to be ignored to the two.
Zuko, edging closer in caution, attempted once more.
"Mom!"
The two figures simply disregarded him as if he wasn't there.
"Azula! Azula! Please. Please, Azula; I wouldn't tell a soul" wailed the woman as her attacker's blade neared her until finally, it ceased at the position of her neck. With nowhere to run, Ursa closed her eyes, squeezing out more tears. Helpless and vulnerable, the woman never ceased to sob in a pathetic manner.
Zuko panicked. "Azula, stop!" He made a fist motioning it toward his sister's face but his punch simply passed through Azula who seemed ignorant to the fact that her brother was even watching her act.
"You're right, Mom, what was I thinking." Retracting the blade back to her side but not dropping it, Azula backed a step, observing her mother's reactions without a moment's hesitation.
Zuko breathed a sigh, relieved.
The girl smiled a devious smile as her mother's eyes opened slowly as if disbelieving her survival. Azula wasn't one to succumb in pity to cries nor was she a believer of mercy.
"Thank…thank you…"
"But why take your word for it when instead, you never say a word again," shrieked Azula, retrieving the previous step that she had taken backwards. The blade was shoved forward as Ursa's eyes began to open, penetrating in pupil first.
Ursa and a horrified Zuko alike simultaneously screamed insanely to the dirty assault as the boy swung his fists at his sister hoping that one would impact and stop her madness. Witnessing the newly spilled blood, Zuko's anguish overtook him as he wailed pitifully, tears streaming down his own face for his mother as she was cruelly agonized into death and to the fact that he was at the scene but could do nothing about it.
"Stop, stop," begged the boy anyways, knowing that nobody would hear him. His wails were paralleled with Ursa's shrieks of agony as her eye was removed from its socket. Azula paused, watching her mother scream helplessly from unnecessary pain, wishing a swift death to consume her already.
Zuko grew nauseous as his sister's blade pierced the other eye, twisting the dagger deeper as her mother's spilled tears intertwined with blood. The boy's head spun dizzily as he tasted vomit in his mouth, hurling out dinner. His sight dimmed and soon, he could see and hear no more than his mother's begs of mercy and cries. The child-prince, still sobbing, collapsed into a faint.
…………………………………………
"Your father would never do what to you? What is going on here?"
"I don't know…"
"It's time for a talk…"
"Please, Azula, please. I won't tell a soul, please…please…let me go. I only came to find out the truth – only the truth. Please…please…please"
"Prince Zuko, Zuko." The voice was familiar and friendly, that much was good.
"Zuko," repeated the voice once more after a few seconds.
Zuko…
Yes…that was my name, wasn't it…
"Look! The Avatar!" told the voice, teeming with excitement, "We must capture him!"
Zuko sprang right up from his former unconscious state, inhaling a quick but deep breath. "What? Where?"
It was just a dream – a nightmare to be more precise.
There, the prince sat next to his Uncle who had a teapot running at about three in the morning – he hadn't slept at all. How Iroh could sustain such cheerfulness regardless of his exhaustion was amazing.
Iroh laughed, sipping his tea casually. "I knew that would work." Then, in complete seriousness, "Are you alright, Prince Zuko? Have a cup of Jasmine Tea."
"I think so, what happened? Where is Azula; where is she?"
"Azula…" contemplated Iroh for a reasonably appropriate response, "Azula ran off after she attacked you; I was too busy fighting off her comrades to stop her."
In an irritable state, Zuko held his head feeling a slight throbbing in it when his dream flashed back to him. Too disturbed to even lay a thought on it, Zuko stood up independently.
"We'd better get going," as he climbed their stolen ostrich-horse, carrying his pack with him.
"What! You just awoke, Prince Zuko; you need your rest. There may be some physical damage from our ambush, perhaps even psychological damage."
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. Now get on."
"Zuko, I know what your sister said to you; you cannot possibly be 'fine' from that; you need rest."
"I've already settled the matter. Sunrise is nearing; we have to get a move on."
"I am amazed by your quick recovery but these things are not so quickly resolved."
Still upon his ostrich-horse, Zuko didn't look back toward Iroh as he spoke.
"Uncle, you of all people should know, what's done is done, sulking about it won't get you any farther."
"Where was that when we didn't capture the Avatar earlier? Zuko, no matter what you decide about the matter, you will have to confront it someday."
"And when that day comes, I'll be ready." The prince gripped his prized dagger in remembrance of his mother, unsheathing a sliver of its blade – he would kill Azula if it was the last thing he did. "I'll be ready."
Noticing his hand upon the dagger, Iroh frowned disappointedly and shook his head. He placed his hand on Zuko's, forcing the dagger's blade back into its sheath.
"No, Zuko, didn't you learn anything from your last encounter with Azula? As long as your aggression remains, you will not be able to defeat her; you must learn humility and trust yourself that when the time comes that you should face your sister again, your matter of revenge will not defile your battle."
"Uncle, trust is an echo of faith. Faith is a lie turned inside-out. Aggression grants me persistence and will; what happened earlier was a mistake – I momentarily lost control. That's it."
Acquiescing to his words, Iroh nodded, succumbing to his nephew's perspective as he mounted the ostrich-horse.
…………………………………………
At three in the morning, the cold had suffocated out the life in the vicinity, forcing the inhabitants into a slumber – waiting for a new day to start with the sunrise, when the temperature rose with heat that the wildlife were so dearly fond of. Yet so early in the morning, Aang felt strangely refreshed by the chilling air as he yawned awake, completely energized from his long rest.
"Twinkletoes," said Toph shortly upon his awakening in an expressionless tone. She was still perched at the edge of the precipice from last night, looking out in to the distance. There was a peculiar sense that emanated from her, something that wasn't normal of her.
"Toph? How'd you know I was awake?" The Avatar, happy for conversation, then put some thought into it, "Oh, was it your heightened sense of hearing that detected that I breathed heavier when I awoke or something?"
He grinned in triumph as a silence clouded the gap, certain that Toph was speechless at such knowledge.
"No…you snore kind of loud occasionally."
Blushing slightly, the air-bender was overtaken with embarrassment before he realized Toph had bags under her eyes – perhaps due to a lack of sleep. "…Oh…why are you up so early? Did you even sleep last night?"
"Nope." Her reply was but a simple response; nothing more. Toph seemed a tad out of her usual self.
"Why?"
"I was…" She paused, giving away an awkward silence whilst slightly fidgeting. Then, deliberately and without hesitation, she proceeded with the lie, "...keeping watch. Hey, don't worry about me; I feel fine."
Aang's face features turned from a grin of curiosity to something not quite suspicion but a worried appearance. Taking a seat beside Toph, Aang, too, overlooked the vast panorama before him, but still taking into account that Toph wasn't able to see it. A small but awkward silence came between the two as they sat there – Aang enjoying the view and Toph…well, simply relaxing there it would seem.
But relaxed wasn't quite the right word according to the earth-bender's facial features. On her face were a frown and an overall look of sadness that almost seemed painted on her face – something was definitely troubling her. Aang just knew it; it was written all over her face.
The Avatar sighed loudly, a small tactic to get attention from Toph.
"Toph, if there was something wrong, you'd tell me, right?"
Her feet shifted away from Aang displaying her true feelings, but she masked them with a conflicting and equally vague message. "Sure…of course."
The Avatar, in reply, used his thumb and index finger to gently shift Toph's head so that he could see her face but more so her dulled eyes. It was astonishing how deep he could look into her faded, blind eyes. Things came into a standstill between the two as the air-bender stared deep into Toph's eyes. The girl unconsciously leaned in, her lips naturally edging closer before it stopped half an inch away from Aang's, waiting for his to pull in and complete the kiss.
"Then what's wrong?" whispered Aang as quietly as possible, his eyes never leaving Toph's. A pause held among them showing Toph's insecurity of what to say exactly. She was split into two: telling the unthinkable truth or simply lying it out.
But the girl desired to burst out in confession, owning up to the guilt that had swelled up in her heart; she wanted it out…
But she couldn't.
"Aaah!" stretched Sokka in a relaxed fashion, who was aroused into life from a rather short but satisfying nap. Stretching his arms and puffing up his chest, "I do feel energetic today. Yes, yes I – mmph"
His speech was hastily interrupted by Katara, who covered his mouth.
"Sokka, ssh!" In a hushed tone, Katara pointed her finger toward Aang and Toph, directing Sokka's attention to the two whose faces (and lips) stood now centimeters apart.
Her brother's mouth was uncovered as he agreed to tone down, "Oh, I see; they do look cute together" Then, in complete immaturity, "Maybe this will make Toph less bossy and uptight."
Katara's face gave a slight twitch as she heard the former, just a trivial one, so that Sokka didn't seem to notice as his eyes fixated temporarily on Aang and Toph.
"What's wrong, Toph?" repeated The Avatar when no reply came. His face held even closer than before to Toph's as the sentiment escalated between them. Their lips briefly touched as his question met no reply; Aang could feel Toph's breath. Suddenly, disrupting the mood in the pang of guilt, the girl drew inches back.
"I don't want to talk about it, Twinkletoes."
Without even thinking about the matter, Toph earth-bended a stream of dull rocks that forced Aang away from Toph as her head simultaneously shifted away in the opposite direction. Though she wanted the guilt that had anchored itself within her out; she didn't want to talk about that – not now, not ever.
Aang, in slight irritation, stood up and walked away in a dampened mood. His tone wasn't filled with frustration nor was it filled with complete nonchalance – somehow completely balanced in the middle. "You don't always need to be so defensive, Toph…"
The girl realized what she had done only after she had committed the earth-bending, repelling Aang away from a kiss – a surefire way to wreck a relationship that she had longed for.
Gah, what have I done…it was Aang – Aang, the person she had thought about the entire night. Aang – the boy she shared distinct feelings about.
Aang – the boy she had just repelled. Aang – the boy she…even…perhaps…loved?
"Aang, wait! I didn't…" Toph stopped in the middle of the sentence, realizing he was no longer present. She hung her head; everything…was so…
What's wrong with me…
"Good morning, Aang," said Katara, pretending to be busy with packing. Her voice held perhaps an overly cheerful quality as the Avatar walked sullenly past her.
"Morning, Katara," replied Aang mechanically as he started to pack. Then, briefly pausing in the process, he whispered, "Is something bothering Toph? She seems so…so…well, she seems different lately."
"What do you mean?" Katara looked up at her friend, grinning about something… although Aang wasn't sure what.
"Well…usually she's so headstrong but now she's like…quiet and defensive."
"Aang, you have to give her some space. I mean, she's probably a little bit homesick. Plus she's probably just a little tired and you're on her nerves," suggested Katara who not only smiled wider but even began to hum optimistically.
"No…I don't think that's it." Aang turned back for a glimpse of Toph, independently packing the few things she had. When he turned back around, the Avatar jumped slightly in fright at Katara's wide and a little creepy smile. "Why…why…are you smiling at me like that…?"
"Huh, what, oh, no reason…" Katara forced the smile down a notch as she turned away from Aang to continue the packing process; Aang did likewise. "So what's going on with you and her?"
"With me and who…?" Aang ceased packing, turning back to Katara. Strangely, the water-bender did the same. Her face, instead of a Cheshire smile, was illustrated with utmost seriousness.
"You know who I'm talking about, Aang. You and Toph."
"What? Nothing, we're just friends. Why?"
"I'm your friend too, right Aang?"
"Course, Katara."
There was that smile again – a shrewd smile.
"Then how come you don't give me flowers and give out kisses to me?" joked the water-bender but somehow despite the casual tone, Aang felt it wasn't so casual. In fact, he felt like Katara was examining him with a magnifying class, poking at him whenever she saw due fault.
The air-bender's face had a tinge of red that slowly began to spread throughout.
"Well…if you think I should…but I only have so many Panda Lilies to give out" joked back Aang, giving out an innocent toothy smile to further enhance the effect.
"Look, Aang, all I'm saying is, I don't think Toph's your type. I mean, you're so agreeable and amiable and Toph, well, she's kind of arrogant and sometimes even ornery. I just don't see her as your type. I picture you with somebody more…more… responsible and ambitious, y'know?"
"Right…and that somebody would be…" Aang's face held clueless to what exactly Katara was hinting about.
"Well…somebody you're familiar with – that you trust," implied the water-bender.
"Hmm…" thought Aang for a second, then after a few seconds seeming content and ignorant, the boy's eyes completely widened in surprised disbelief, evidently seeing what Katara had been insinuating all along. "Whaaaattt?"
"Aang, Katara! Toph!" yelled Sokka as he sat of Appa's saddle watching the two exchange their words but not really knowing what they were conversing about, "Let's go!"
The water-bender left a dumbstruck Aang to join her brother on Appa. Still slightly dazed from his conversation, Aang only barely noticed Toph walking past her, carrying her sack.
You need to give her some space.
"Toph! Wait up." The Avatar quickly ran up to the girl with a sheepish smile. He looked side to side in a flustered fashion, realizing that both Sokka and Katara were probably observing him. Then, whispering quietly, "I'm sorry about earlier; I won't ever bother you about it again. I'm sorry if I –"
However, he was interrupted as Toph's index finger covered his lips.
"Twinkletoes, you don't need to talk so much; I get it." With that said, the girl leaned in for a kiss that spanned for several seconds which seemed to pass all too quickly. Aang, startled by the shift in Toph's disposition, kissed back not sure what to do about the 'Katara situation'. Disoriented into silence, The Avatar mounted his bison after the earth-bender unable to meet eyes with Katara whom, depicted in his mind, was sending him sharp glares.
…………………………………………
"The Avatar was here," examined a figure, picking up a Panda Lily among the ruins of rocks. A breeze passed by, blowing a single strange of her hair away. Studying the flower and its origination, the figure came into a conclusion effortlessly, whispering to herself, "Panda Lilies don't grow up here…this is the Avatar's."
"Which way do you think they went, Azula?" A silhouette of another person stopped beside her. For the answer, Azula looked unto the treetops, eyes narrowing in thought. It only took a second.
"West and they couldn't have gone very far, but that's not what I'm worried about…," spoke the fire-princess, eyes fixated upon the Panda Lily with malice. Her face creased with hate, crumpling the delicate flower within her hand.
When her hand reopened, there was but charred ashes for remains.
And thus ends the Three-Parter! You might ask how I arrange the chapters into parts as they might seem quite randomized. It's simply, really. Every section where the gAang are leaving after their destination will end the chapter.
Hooray! A sub-objective is derived! Honestly, I was going to make this chapter longer – much longer, in fact.
A big Sorry to the people who requested the unfinished Chapter 5 to read over AIM and I told them that it would be longer! But there was something in my plot that wouldn't allow that – you'll see it next chapter.
To the answer of "Who killed Azulon", I'm not releasing it until the end of the chapter that tells who. It's not Ursa, if you read this and last chapter carefully which I hope you did. If I'm to make it a surprise, I have to extend the facts slowly.
Of course, I'm not going to answer the plot but I think most of you have the right idea. In fact, some of you are spot-on.
If you want to be surprised by the plot, I suggest you don't read the Reviewer Replies as they may contain minor spoilers. If you want to read your own just (Ctrl + F)
If you would kindly review, telling me what you liked and more importantly, what you didn't like, I would appreciate it! Hopefully, with your advice and guidance, my future chapters will be of much better quality. I actually love reading your suggestions as some of them are quite good ideas that I'll use. Don't hesitate to write a review!
Likesay85 – Thanks for the compliments. In fact, the reason it took three days for me to write out Chapter 3 was partly because that the skeleton and sketch of the fight were so hard to do. One of those days, I was in bed reading "The Art Of Lying" (which is great btw) and I'm not even paying attention to the book just sketching out the fight. I'm glad that you thought the fights were creative – it really puts the chapter's work in perspective. I love your reviews, if you should keep reviewing; I shall keep going
Zatcher – I'm trying to make the speed which the chapters are released a bit faster. Thanks for the review that you're 'hooked'! I hope you stay in for this chapter as well.
ForeverBrokenForever – Thanks! I shall try though the block is tough.
Yuffie-Chan2 – I am well aware that the last four chapters have been a lack of fluff. Trust me, the situation shall change! Chapter 4, I agree was extremely angsty – but how to tell the said chapter without angst? I'm sure it would be beyond my skills. I'm up for a challenge but that's pushing it, lol. Thanks for the support though; hopefully you will like this chapter better than the last one.
Lightningstrxu – LOL A Luza… HAHAHA. That's very creative of you. If you that one came up as you were writing the fic – you're genius!
DancingPickle101 – Thanks, I'm glad you classify my writing as 'excellent'. I'm attempting to refine every single chapter I do. Hopefully, it's paying off.
The Blind Bandit – LOL actiony fluff. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. I tried not to push Ursa's murder too much.
Aheyl – I can't wait until you find out about the whole theory that was based on that one episode; they all click very well in place.
Xnecro – Hopefully, you got some of your wishes fulfilled with this chapter. Katara isn't necessarily going berserk over Toph & Aang (I can't picture that), but she certainly is trying to undermine Toph. About your Ursa theory, let me ask you something. Does Ursa seem like one to kill? I mean sure you could refer the turtle-duck scene but does she really seem like a murderer unless it was last resort? To me, she seems more logical enough to find out the truth (which you may have learned from this chapter). And do you think she would even hesitate running off with Zuko instead of killing Azulon? Oh, I might have said too much.
They say that Born-Blinds are nearly impossible to cure. Nearly. There is a way to follow upon the deal. You shall see. Another interesting thing to note is that during a NDS (Near Death State), born-blind people can see temporarily. Just a note. Nothing more
Mentalhospitalescapee – Believe me, I'm trying to pull the deadlines back. For example, this chapter was due the 31st but instead was pulled to 28th.
Sifu Toph – OMG, a very insightful critique. I absolutely love these. First off, let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed your story. Hopefully, I kept Toph in character with this one even though I had to structure her a bit differently due to guilt. The fic is after TFoA, I suppose, but perhaps AU when Sep 15 rolls around. Thanks for reviewing! I really appreciated your review, first definitive review out of the 149 that I have. Once again, thanks.
MetalDragonFX – I wouldn't put anything past that sadistic brat, Azula. It doesn't mean I don't like her. Heck, she's a pretty cool character.
ReckAndCardi – Hm, I don't get why people think Ursa killed Azulon. She just doesn't appear to be someone with a heart for murder if you get what I mean. Thanks for reviewing!
Abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz123 – I typed it all out! Thanks for the review. Ursa's death was one of the more enjoyable parts of the story to write. Call me cruel but I liked writing differently. Azula dialogue is always fun to write.
BloomableBee - salute Fluff is nice too but without plot it would be just kisses – that doesn't appeal to me. Thanks for the compliment. As you might know, 95 of my effort was in the action scenes and sketching it out.
Digifreak1028 – 50 correct, my friend. And if you read this chapter you probably know the plot then P.