Kishi: Dedicated to the Lady Hotspur - for writing a great Zuko-fic that isn't Zutara. And because she just rocks in general. Check her out!

---

Kara-No

Chapter 11

Down-to-Earth

---

"You..." Katara whispered. She couldn't believe it. He'd changed so much. He'd once been so skinny, looking frail in his tunic. His hair had once stood up in a Kingdom topknot and been bound back with a green band. The young man who stood before her now, though, was built of stone harder than those he Bent. He looked like he could crush a stone in his hands if so inclined. His hair was also bound lower now, a single tail that sprouted from the nape of his neck. There was no tunic here, either. Black pants and a green cotton jacket were his clothes now.

Haru, for his part, looked awfully surprised to see them as well. "Katara? Aang? What are you two doing here?"

"Oh, yeah," Sokka grumbled. "Just forget about the non-Bender. No, I didn't help get you out of the rig, not me..."

Haru laughed. At least his eyes were the same - still that light, easy shade of green, like grass bowing in the breeze. Katara found herself fighting down a blush - absurd! So they'd fought together against Fire Benders, and so he'd just helped them out now, and so he was good-looking - no good reasons!

"It is good to see you all again," he said. "But it's a bit of a surprise! How'd you guys end up all the way over here?"

"We came here to study Earth Bending," said Aang. "But, still! I had no idea you were going to be here."

"It was my father's idea, actually," Haru replied. "He says that there's nothing more I can learn from him and that I should learn from the best. So he sent me here."

"That was really brave of you," said Katara, "coming here in the middle of a war and everything." Well, it was. She was not trying to flatter him. She wasn't!

"Well," said Haru, sheepishly grinning and rubbing his head, "there wasn't a war going here when I arrived, you know. I didn't even intend on fighting at all. But so many soldiers fell, and Master Jigen thought we should help out, and I've been out here ever since."

"Haru!" a voice called. They turned to find another young man, similarly dressed and built, but with blunter features and less hair. "The soldiers say they can take it from here, so we're planning on heading back to the Temple."

Haru turned and looked to the group. "That's right! Master will want to talk to you all then. Come on!"

He walked off into the ruined city, Aang and the others close behind. As they walked through the streets, they could see that the siege had taken its toll. Craters littered their road, and the buildings lining were in a poor state of repair. Some were missing their roofs, and there were gaping maws rent in some of the palaces that they passed. But the people seemed calm, at ease, as if there wasn't a siege at all. Market stalls still lined the streets, and laughter and play could still be heard as they passed certain plazas.

The mountain at the center loomed ever higher, windows and tiers sticking out apparently at random. As they approached, they could see massive gates, and the angles of some of those windows made the purpose of this place readily apparent.

The gates looked too massive to be moved by a single man, but Haru stopped, lowering his stance. He took a large step forward, pushing with his hands. His arms seemed to strain, and they all could see why - the gate slowly ground open.

So it's true, thought Katara. He has gotten so much stronger.

The group walked inside.

---

"Allow me to be sure I understand you," said the Lady Qiao. "They walked up to the guards."

"Correct," said Colonel Zhu.

"They identified themselves as Prince Zuko and General Airoh."

"Correct."

"Without any subterfuge?"

"None that we could detect, my Lady. Nobody would dare impersonate those two. They can only be who they say they are."

Qiao wanted to grind her teeth, growl, show some sign of how annoying this development was. Airoh and Zuko represented two unique quantities in the system – exiles, but important exiles. Both were related to the royal family – and their status was capable of being restored. And worst of all, Ozai himself had been strangely silent on the fate of his seed. As long as Zuko didn't violate the edict to not return to Fire Nation waters, the Lord did not seem to care what happened.

Her only choice, then, was to turn to the law, and the law dictated loyalty to royalty no matter what, and her life was forfeit if she failed. So now on top of the siege, she had to play nursemaid to an arrogant princeling and a doddering old man.

Ridiculous! I'm a soldier, not a nanny! The indignity of the situation made her want to bite something. A frown would have to suffice.

"So where are they now?"

"They are in a guest tent," said Zhu. "They are under guard at the moment. We await your decision."

"Very well," she said, striding out of her tent. She walked through dirt paths and row upon row of tents. Soldiers and servants all stopped to bow in some way, no matter how hurried they were. She could hear the sounds of hammers as the smiths worked on weapons and armor. Shouts and catcalls could be heard as she passed – never immediately around her of course, but she could not deny them their opportunities for camaraderie.

She continued walking for another five minutes before arriving at the only tent with guards outside. The two were tall and forbidding, filling their armor impressively. Hard to believe they weren't even 25 yet.

They saluted tersely, pulling aside the entrance folds of the tent. Upon stepping in, she found almost exactly what she'd expected – the two Exiles. The third with silver hair was a surprise, but she could hardly be important. Probably a servant – nothing more.

"Ah, Lady Qiao!" exclaimed the retired General. He stood and bowed politely, and she bowed in kind, matching him perfectly.

"General Airoh," she replied, allowing a trace of a smile. Doddering or not, the man was charming.

Zuko stood also. "Lady," he said, inclining his head.

She rose from her bow and turned to look at him. "Prince Zuko," she replied, but she would offer him nothing. He was the one without honor.

The moment stretched. Zuko's eyes hardened, and his jaw clenched. She found herself wondering what he would say when Airoh broke in: "So, how goes the siege?"

"As you would expect," she replied. "However, your presence here is a surprise. I suppose you are intent on capturing the Avatar."

"Has he been sighted?" asked Zuko, his voice holding signs of excitement.

"That, Zuko," she said, "is not your concern."

"Excuse me?" Zuko growled.

"Zuko, you forget yourself," she warned. Her voice was soft and cold – snow on a winter day. "You have no honor. I owe you nothing."

"The Avatar is key to me regaining my honor," Zuko replied. "It is not a question of debts. I understand that you owe me nothing. Rather, you have an opportunity to bestow honor upon me."

"And why should I?" she asked

"Because nobody deserves to live a life without honor."

"That is true," she conceded. "Anybody deserves honor. There is only one kind of person who does not."

Zuko stiffened. "What sort of person does not?"

Why ask? You already know the answer. "A traitor," she replied. "And they deserve no honor, because they have never had it. How can they deserve something they never had?"

"I am no traitor," Zuko growled.

"And yet you are an exile. How can you be one... unless you are the other?"

"I am not a traitor!" Zuko roared.

"You spoke out against the Fire Lord," Qiao said coldly. "In front of all his generals. You conspired against Zhao during the Arctic Campaign. Yes," she said to his surprised expression, "I know what happened there. I know you fought openly against the Admiral - and rather than explain yourself, you ran. Rather suspect activity for one so loyal, isn't it?"

Zuko didn't fidget - she didn't imagine he could - but he did seem uncertain. She watched his face harden, and decided to push him just a little further off-balance. "Still," she said, "you are my guest. And guests are accorded certain honors - such as quarters. And guards at all hours."

"Guarded quarters? So we're prisoners?" he snarled.

"Prisoners? Oh, not at all," she said with a chill smile. She stood. "You are merely my honored guests who I seek to keep from harm. You don't object, do you?"

Plainly, Zuko did, but Airoh hurriedly interjected: "Not at all! Please show us to our quarters! It has been a long journey, and we could use a rest."

"I believed you could." As if on cue, soldiers entered the tent. Lady Qiao bowed to the retired General, turned, and walked away.

---

"Master Jigen!" The group had walked through vast sandy hallways, passed truly massive emerald columns. Haru had led them past all the rooms in this place, so Aang couldn't really sense what sort of place it was, but by the sounds. Dull clangs rang throughout the hallways. Some doors allowed the sounds of chanting - what sort of prayers did the Earth Kingdom say?

Some rooms he passed gave the impression of great size. He could hear shouts, heard rumblings and crashes. Those must be the Earth Bending rooms, he realized. He felt a shudder of excitement go through him - it'd be great!

Their odyssey through the mountain ended in a room that was strange. A shaft of sunlight illuminated the center. A man was standing in the center of a field of rocks, on a stone that jutted out like an island in the sea. There was no denying it - the man's wrinkles had wrinkles. His beard was long and white, stretching down to the middle of his chest, and it seemed to be the only hair he had. His green robes hung off of him loosely.

As the group watched, the man stomped. A portion of the sea burst upward, and he swept those rocks off to another section. He stooped low and pulled other stones off to the right. Then he stood straight, staring again. He made a motion, like picking something up, and one of the larger stones lifted. His arm moved it, as though it were a crane, and dropped the stone to the right of where it had been. Another to the left. Another even further left. Another le- no, ri- le- he couldn't make up his mind, apparently.

"Graaah!" the old man shouted, dropping the rock. "How could anybody contemplate the mess I'm making? I might as well make a panda out of this!" The old man groaned, shaking his head.

"Master Jigen!" Haru called out.

The old man looked up. "Ah, Haru! I trust all is well in the city again?"

"Yes, master! And I have good news!"

"What, that those annoying alarm bells stopped? That's news enough!"

Haru shook his head. "No, master! The Avatar has arrived!"

"Has he? Splendid." Jigen's stone suddenly slid forward, through his rock garden until he leapt off at the edge. "Well done in conveying them here, Haru," said the master, leaning a grandfatherly hand on the younger's shoulder. "Now, I want you to fix this garden for me."

"You mean the garden that you couldn't figure out?" Aang asked.

"Indeed! A younger mind will have to prevail," said Jigen as Haru bowed and turned toward his master's mess. "But forget this old man's troubles with Bending and bowels and the bends therein. We are honored to have you here, Avatar."

"One is honored to be here," Aang replied, bowing. "I've come to study Earth Bending."

"You don't say?" the man asked. His eyes twinkled with amusement. "My, but you are in the wrong place, aren't you?"

"Ah... I'm sorry?"

"You need to be a few floors down, in a beginner's room. Out the door, three flights of stairs down, and the room on the left should suffice."

"Ah! Yes!" Aang bowed and turned to run. What a strange old man, he thought with a grin as he dashed out the door.

---

"Damn it!"

"Zuko, you must calm down!"

"I am calm!"

"Then please stop burning a hole in the carpet. I happen to like the patterns."

Zuko stopped his pacing, and took a deep breath. And another. And another. His hands gradually unclenched, and his jaw relaxed. The single frowning eyebrow didn't budge.

"There," said his uncle placatingly. "Isn't that better?"

"No," said Zuko. He crossed his arms. "I don't like this, Uncle. What the Hell is this Lady trying to pull on us?"

"What do you mean?"

"This game!" he snapped. "Why is she playing with us? She outright accused me of treachery! According to the law, I should be dead! And here we've been placed under guard?"

"I don't think she is playing with you, Zuko," Airoh said, scratching his chin thoughtfully.

"Why not?"

"Because she follows orders no matter what. If Lord Ozai had decreed your death, she would have killed you. But you have not broken the edict. As such, it seems she was merely stating her opinion of you."

She will have something to say when I have my throne! "But if she thinks so little of me, why the guards? There's a whole army to watch me."

"For protection," his uncle said with an amiable smile - which froze. "Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless the Avatar is here," said Airoh with wide eyes. "In which case, she has to keep you out of the way. She knows you'd be after him in a heartbeat if you knew he was here, and your death would complicate things for her back at home. So she deliberately tells you those things to get your blood up, and keep you occupied--"

"-Long enough for her to let on to her officers what's going on," finished Zuko. "They've had all day to alert their soldiers, set up patrols, keep their eyes-and-ears open..."

They sat there in stunned silence.

Suddenly, Airoh burst out laughing. "What's so funny, Uncle?" Zuko bit out.

"This is one clever Lady we have!" Airoh laughed. "She played you like an instrument!"

"I didn't see you coming up with any bright ideas!" Zuko snapped angrily. Further comment was cut off as the tentflap pulled away. The dying sunlight illuminated Reiko's slender frame as she stepped in. Her escort nodded and let the tentflap fall.

"Your tea was in stock," she said to Airoh. "Shall I prepare some for you?"

"Later," hissed Zuko. His uncle's disapproving glance could be dealt with later. "What did you find out?"

Reiko glanced at the entrance, but there wasn't a sound from the guards. And the canvas was good and heavy. There was a good chance that nobody would hear them. Her voice was very soft, though, as she said, "The Avatar is here."

"I knew it," muttered Zuko. Even though he was being quieter, a certain hard edge had found its way to his voice. "I knew it."

"But there's more to it, my Prince," she replied. "Lady Qiao has an interesting history. I may need Airoh's help to corroborate some of this."

"Go ahead, my dear," said the General. "Provided we can get our hands on some tea later."

"Of course," she smiled. "In any case, it seems that right after you were banished, there was a massive battle between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. A youth unit - the 41st - was used to bait several Earth units into a trap."

Zuko's eyes widened. Airoh nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I remember that had been a plan that my brother was considering. I had heard news that soldiers were moving out soon before we left as well..."

"So they did it any way," said Zuko. His fists clenched. "What happened?"

"The plan backfired," she said, and her voice held a touch of sadness. "The Earth Kingdom attacked, and the 41st shattered almost immediately. When the other units arrived, they were only able to fight to a stalemate, and both sides withdrew."

So... I couldn't make any difference. "What happened to the 41st?"

Reiko gave him an odd look. Perhaps something in his voice...? No. He had more control than that. "They had 1,000 soldiers at the battle," she replied. "Their part lasted a day, and there were barely 300 left at the end. Their commanding officer had also been slain in the battle, and there was much negative sentiment in the remains of the unit."

"The protocol in such things," said Airoh, "would be to diffuse those soldiers into the rest of the army."

"Yes," said Reiko, "but nobody wants insubordinate soldiers, and the paperwork involved with the court-martial of 300 soldiers was not considered desirable."

"You still haven't answered my question," said Zuko.

"The fate of the 41st was considered uncertain, until Lady Qiao intervened."

"Tell us about her," Airoh implored.

Reiko frowned. "These people don't know all that much about her themselves. She's a low-born noble from some obscure house. As near as we can tell, she had no prospects, so she volunteered for military service. She had just been promoted to the rank of General when she volunteered to take the leadership of the 41st."

"She volunteered for them?" asked Zuko, astonished.

"Yes. She managed to convince them to keep on fighting and reformed the 41st into the core of her army."

"How?"

"Well, nephew," said Airoh, stroking his tuft of beard, "she seems adept at handling anger."

"Fair enough, fair enough."

"Now, how about some of that tea?" asked Airoh, clapping his hands and rubbing them gleefully. Reiko smiled and stood, willowy grace again, but Zuko's eyes were not on her. He was thinking of Lady Qiao, and the story he'd heard.

"I think," he said presently, "that you are right, Uncle. This is some Lady we have on our hands."

---

The quarters that Master Jigen had provided were as adequate as the prison cell in Omashu - good soft beds, draperies, wall scrolls. It was interesting, though, that she and Yuki had been roomed separately from her brother and Shin. And Yuki had left to practice, which left her with nearly nothing to do, so she left.

At this time of day, the corridors teemed with life as students meandered between training and dining areas. The halls rang with the sound of all those voices as the youngers ran to keep up with elders. She could see servants in drab olive contrasting sharply with the green robes of the students.

Katara let the stream of people pass her by, flowing through the crowds easily. It wasn't that she disdained conversation with these people, but she couldn't deny it. She wanted to find Haru. He was a friend she had risked much for, and she wanted to see him again. So she passed by rooms empty and full. She did not touch any doors - the bells and chants announced what happened in there - but let her feet lead her through hall after hall, room after room.

Finally, she arrived at a near-empty room. This room did not have the pristine unbroken earth of the others, but was littered with holes and craters. There was only one person in here, and Katara leaned on the door frame to watch.

Haru had shrugged his jacket down to his waist, and his body streamed with sweat. He was in a low Hill-Climber stance, arms stretched out in front of him. In front of him hovered a positively huge hunk of earth. The boy didn't seem to be doing much - simply holding it in place, tense, breathing in a controlled motion. Yes, she was noticing his breathing. No, she wasn't staring at his chest for the sake of it.

But she couldn't deny that he was pretty to look at.

Finally, he dropped the rock and swept out of the stance. He opened his eyes, and that was finally when he noticed her. "Katara! What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to catch up!" she said with a smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting, though."

"Not at all," he said with a grin. "Just finished..." He stretched, sighing and shaking himself.

"So," Katara grasped for something, anything to talk about. "Why here?"

"Hm?"

"I mean, why did you come here?"

"Well, father said I'd learned all I could from him. He wanted me to come here, so I did."

"I see. So how are things back home?"

"They're great!" said Haru, a huge grin on his face. "When father returned, the villagers all rose up! Everybody hated the idea of the Fire Nation sticking around, so they fought all the harder."

"Haru, that's wonderful!" Katara beamed. "I knew you could do it!"

"Maybe," he said. Then his face took on a certain shy aspect as he said, "To be honest, though, it was because of you."

Katara blinked. "Me? Why?"

"Because!" said Haru. "You inspired us to fight back! It was your words that reminded us what we were fighting for. And you gave me my father back, and my home and... and..."

"And what?"

"And... well..." he said, "you kinda inspired me to come here too..."

Awww... She smiled at him. "Well, it is good to see you again."

-

Gray eyes watched the going's on, and large ears listened. Aang sighed as he watched them before trudging off to the dining hall.

---

Kishi: And that's it for this one!

Hill-Climber Stance: it's a forward stance, with most of the weight on the forward leg.

Yeah. I think that's about it.

Kishi: Anyway, that's it! Hope y'all enjoyed it! Join us next time, when--

:a tech guy runs up to Kishi and whispers in his ear:

Kishi: What! But-- oh, come on!

DIRECTOR: Sorry dude! You should have done an Omake last time! You pay now!

Kishi: Okay kids, I better explain it a bit. Hotspur and I once came up with an idea wherein I, a chaste and dateless loser, would date all the tough, seductive women of Avatar. That means Suki and Zula, but also means Yuki (of my story) and Hotaru (of hers - Downfall, a great work if ever I've seen one). Looks like this is it.

DIRECTOR: The good news is we're only going to make him do this once!

Kishi: Thank God!

DIRECTOR: We're having him date all four at once!

Kishi: AAAGH! Wait a minu

Omake no Toki! Shichiban! Futarino Himekoya Futarino Mushaya Hitorino Sabishii Otakuwa Nakade!

(Time for the 7th Extra! Two Princesses, Two Warriors, and One Lonely Geek in the Middle!)

KISHI: Ah, great! Okay, so let's see. I'm in a fancy restaurant in a white tux. Classy, classy. And it does seem that this restaurant is divided up into four parts.

(Indeed it is. The restaurant is divided into four distinct square sections, with a central hallway that interlinks them. The tables are filled, the music's going. What shall our hero do?)

KISHI: Grah. All right. Let's try door number one.

(KISHI dashes off to the right - and is stunned. Waiting for him is HOTARU, her hair in buns, in a black cheongsam dress with no sleeves. She smiles up at him as KISHI walks over and sits down in front of her).

KISHI: Hi! Sorry I'm late!

HOTARU: That's all right. I ordered the wine for us, though.

KISHI: I see. I hope you weren't waiting too long.

HOTARU: It's fine. I must say I like your taste in restaurants.

KISHI: Oh, well, thank you. I'm glad you approve.

HOTARU: I do.

(HOTARU bats her eyelashes. KISHI blinks).

KISHI: Whew! What a lady! And you're telling me I've got three more? And I have to balance them! EEEK! . No, no, steady, steady. You haven't lost this yet, man. Hold it together. Now, let's see about this other section.

(He runs across to find a similar room - only this time, it's Yuki, in a blue gown. She offers him the slightest grin as he sits down).

KISHI: Gosh, but traffic's a killer this time of day!

YUKI: It looks like you ran all the way here.

KISHI: Something like that.

YUKI: Good! I ordered the meal already, so now all we have to do is. well, catch up.

(YUKI gives a very seductive grin, and KISHI blinks rapidly).

KISHI: Well, it's not as if there's very much to catch up on, is there? We work together, remember?

YUKI: I know. It doesn't leave us much time to get close, does it?

(YUKI leans closer, to illustrate her point. KISHI unconsciously follows the motion, and he is afforded a view which he normally wouldn't dare to take).

YUKI: You look so very tired! Have you been sleeping well?

KISHI: Yes. when I can.

YUKI: Oh, how sad!

(She gently glides a finger across his cheek)

KISHI: I'm gonna go splash some water on my face.

(KISHI runs back into the Hall Between).

KISHI: AAGH! IT BURNS! And yet I can't bear for it to stop.

(KISHI shakes his head angrily)

KISHI: No no no no! No! Stay focused! You haven't even gotten to the other two yet!

(KISHI runs into the next room and finds the table with food already prepared. ZULA is sitting there, a petulant look on her face. Her dress is short and red, and she's tapping the table impatiently).

KISHI: I wish I had a good excuse.

ZULA: Wouldn't change anything.

KISHI: I see the food's arrived.

(KISHI pokes at his steak).

KISHI: Exceptionally well-done, too.

ZULA: It wasn't brought that way.

(ZULA laughs behind her hand. KISHI gulps nervously).

KISHI: So. uh, about that next season. how's it shaping up?

ZULA: It's going well.

(Her hand trails along her face, along her neck to her shoulder. Her fingers graze the strap of the dress suggestively).

KISHI: Wonderful! Be back in a sec!

(KISHI doesn't hear ZULA's indignant squawk as he dashes away. In the Hall:)

KISHI: Wow, way to be a virtuous man there. Damn it! These women are so beautiful. heck, at this rate, one glance will do me in! How am I supposed to hold up? Aaagh. well, can't go back. Only keep going forward. Who's left?

(KISHI steps into the last room. SUKI is sitting there, resplendent in a green kimono with gold floral prints. She looks up and smiles brightly).

SUKI: KISHI! It's good to see you!

KISHI: You too, SUKI.

(KISHI sits down tiredly).

SUKI: Is something wrong?

KISHI: I'm just tired, you know? I feel kind of overwhelmed.

SUKI: Duty can do that, can't it?

(She leans closer).

KISHI: I know! I just don't know how to handle myself, you know? I want to do the right thing, and yet I don't too.

SUKI: It's not an easy path. But you know what, KISHI?

KISHI: Hm?

SUKI: Well, it's kind of a secret, and I don't want anyone to hear.

(KISHI looks at her skeptically and leans in a little closer).

SUKI: It has to be followed. And I know you can do it, I truly do.

(SUKI brushes her lips against KISHI's cheek.)

KISHI: Funny. I'd expect to be some form of dead at this point.

(A loud shout) KISHI!

KISHI: Ah. Here it comes.

(The other three stalk up to him).

HOTARU: KISHI, what the heck are you doing?

SUKI: You mean I'm not the only one?

KISHI: Eh, no. it's a funny story, really. See-

ZULA: Screw it! You've been telling stories all night! The real question here, simply:

(Flames appear in ZULA's hands).

ZULA: How long will it take us to kill you?

KISHI: Umm.

YUKI: Let's take our time about it. I don't mind sharing.

HOTARU: Oh, I insist! My ideas require... group effort.

SUKI: He does deserve it.

ZULA: Meh. I'll give you what's left of him.

(All four look at him consideringly).

KISHI: HOLD THAT THOUGHT!

(KISHI grabs the first thing that comes to hand - a pepper dispenser. He quickly grinds some and throws it into the air. As all start sneezing, KISHI stumbles past and starts running. The others quickly give chase, pursuing him out of the restaurant. All disappear down an alley away from view).

DIRECTOR: And that's a wrap! You guys can come out from the alley now!

(There's no response).

DIRECTOR: Hello!

(Nothing).

DIRECTOR: Oh great! They're trying to take his virtue! I suppose someone's gotta save that knucklehead. OKAY BOYS! JUST LIKE WE PRACTICED!

(Firemen descend on the alley.)

owari.

Avatar: The Last Air Bender is copyrighted to people who aren't me. I don't know who they are, otherwise, I'd give 'em credit.

The only things I own in this story are those things that I perceive as being original, and thusly are mine. If you recognize something that you came up with first, all credit goes to you.

I have no clue where you can contact me. I think the address is in my profile.