Shattered
Chapter Eighteen
Zuko stared at the ceiling of the bedroom. With a sigh, he rolled over for what felt like the hundredth time that night. He couldn't sleep. In his mind he was torn between his decision to leave Anko's farm and his desire to stay. He closed his eyes in an effort to sleep, but it proved fruitless. With a groan he sat up. It was late. Even Misha, who was usually his steadfast sleeping companion, had abandoned him long ago apparently tired of his tossing and turning.
The only thing the restless night had been good for was figuring some things out. His battle with Katara, the irrepressible rage he had felt, had really been a battle with himself. He was angry at himself. No, he was angry at the situation he was in. His life had been a constant struggle. A struggle for his Father's approval, a struggle for acceptance, a struggle for forgiveness. That was fine though. As his Father had once told him; what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. Zuko was strong; he was a fighter and he never gave up. That's what made his present condition so unbearable. It was the first time in his life where he couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. The first time he had no goal to struggle for. The first time he had felt like no matter what he did, he couldn't affect or improve his condition.
Helpless. He had felt helpless, which was such an alien feeling for the Prince that he hadn't recognized it at all. And the appearance of the Water Tribe siblings had been like salt in an open wound, especially Katara with her boundless faith in the Avatar. Her confidence that somehow, some way, the situation would all work out, while annoying, had shown Zuko how far he had fallen. He had been pissed off at himself and his situation and Katara had represented a familiar enemy, something he could fight. A situation he could affect.
Anko was right, he realized. He wasn't going to lose control again. He was stronger than that, stronger than what he had become. Strong enough to have faith in his Uncle, who had never failed him before. But he wasn't sure if he could stand waiting anymore. Waiting while others decided his fate wasn't really his style. Zuko wanted control of his own life back. But then again, he had given his Uncle his word to be here when the old man returned for him.
Restlessly he rose and walked to the window, opening it for some fresh air. Zuko leaned against the frame, staring out into the moonlit landscape. This time of night, the farm was still and peaceful, with only the quiet chorus of night insects meeting his ears. He could only wish his head and his heart would grant him a similar reprieve. With another sigh, he pushed himself away from the window, determined to go to bed and fall asleep.
A flash of light caught his eye. He paused. It was a lantern, the golden glow a sharp contrast to the cool, pale moonlight. The unnatural light bobbed around the barn; probably one of the Watertribers seeking the outhouse. He was about to dismiss the incident when the light moved away from the barn and headed out the wagon trail that led to the town. Zuko frowned. There was no reason for them to be headed in that direction, especially this time of night. Unless… The Prince's heart jumped… The Avatar! No, no, it couldn't be. But why else would the Water Tribe teens be sneaking off like that? Maybe the Avatar had escaped; maybe he had somehow made contact with his friends and they were going to meet in the woods. Or maybe he had been hiding there this whole time? A logical part of Zuko's mind told him how highly improbable these theories were, but his heart wouldn't let go of its newfound hope. At any rate, there was no way he was going to get any sleep now. Silently, he padded over to his bag and, holding a tiny flame in one cupped hand, he grabbed his black ninja outfit.
Zuko dressed quickly and slipped out his open window. He headed stealthfully, but swiftly across the yard, towards where the lantern had been. The golden glow was at the top of the hill now; Zuko hid in the shadow of the barn until he could no longer see it. Then he rounded the barn and headed up the hill himself, cursing the full moon that made stalking difficult. When he reached the top of the hill he dropped to the ground, and cautiously crawled up the final few feet. Thankfully, the lantern bearer was traveling at a much more leisurely place; Zuko had reached the top of the hill before the person could reach the bottom. As he peeked through the weeds, the lantern bearer paused and looked back towards the hill top, causing Zuko to freeze. The light of the lantern illuminated the face of the person he was following. The night walker was Anko!
The farmer's pause was brief; she turned and continued walking down the trail towards the woods. Zuko hesitated. What in the world was Anko up too? His curiosity fully aroused, he continued to silently follow her, creeping down the hill in a crouch. When the moon was obscured by a cloud, he dashed to the woods, where there was far more cover in which to hide himself. Using trees and undergrowth, he noiselessly followed the light, gradually closing the distance between them. Anko seemed oblivious and unhurried, strolling casually down the path as if it was perfectly natural to take a walk this time of night. Then, without warning, she shuttered the lantern, returning the path to darkness.
Zuko froze, afraid he had been caught. He blinked, allowing his eyes to readjust to the dark, shadowy path. He relaxed when he heard the farmer's footsteps moving away from him. Employing all of his skills to avoid making any sound, he crept after her. He stayed off the trail, sticking to the underbrush; an act that forced him to move far more slowly to avoid detection. When her footsteps stopped, so did he. Zuko inched his way behind the trunk of a large tree. The thick canopy of leaves blocked out most of the moonlight and he had lost track of Anko's precise whereabouts in the darkness. He waited, hoping the earthbender would make a noise and reveal her location. He frowned; closing his eyes so he could concentrate on his hearing. He could hear footsteps, but they were approaching instead of fading away. And there were male voices coming with them.
"I tell you, Rikuo, this is a waste of time. Anko isn't going to listen to reason; she's the most unreasonable person on all of Yopoko."
"My brother is right. Who cares what happens to that old bat anyways."
An older voice answered, "You should, Shikimaru. As headman of Yokopo, your duty is to all the citizens of this island. This is your responsibility."
"Shut up! I don't need some old fool telling me my responsibilities!"
Lantern light was coming down the trail. Zuko maneuvered himself so he could see the three men approaching. Two seemed to be in their late forties, one was considerably older. One of the younger ones continued talking. "After what she did to my son, Anko deserves everything that befalls her. I'm only doing this to put an end to your incessant nagging."
"I see you're as charming and respectful as always, Shikimaru." Anko's dry sardonic voice cut off the headman's complaining. "It's easy to see where your son gets his impeccable sense of honor." The three men stopped, startled. One lifted a lantern, revealing Anko leaning casually against a tree. Zuko swallowed hard; she was right across from him. He remained motionless behind the tree trunk, hoping the shadows would keep her from noticing him. Fortunately, her focus was on the three intruders.
"Rikuo-san," she inclined her head respectfully to the eldest. "Shikimaru, Torimaru, to what do I owe the honor of this unexpected visit? It must be awfully important for you two to be skulking around like thieves in the night. And you left your mules down the trail too. Were you afraid that Max would alert me? Such a pity for you that I can smell a rat coming from a mile away." Zuko was surprised. Although her body position was casual, there was an underlying tension to her tone. An edge of bitter hatefulness he had never heard her use before.
The one called Shikimaru glared at her, clearly thrown off by her meeting them on the trail. Then he smirked. "As pleasant as always, Anko. Here," he threw a scroll at her, "read for yourself." Anko caught the scroll effortlessly, and then eyed the three men for a moment before bending to unshutter the lantern at her feet. Hanging it from a branch, she unfurled the scroll. Anko glanced it over before looking back up at Shikimaru's smirking face. "And what, pray tell, does this have to do with me?"
"Don't play dumb Anko; we know the Watertribers are on your farm. I directed them there myself. The bounty is five hundred in gold. I'll split it with you, fifty-fifty, if you don't cause any trouble."
Anko's face split into a sardonic grin. "How generous, but I'm afraid I'm not interested. You send them to me for help, and then expect me to turn them over to the Fire Nation? Heh, your lack of honor truly knows no bounds."
The man's brother, Torimaru, jumped in, his hot-headed nature a stark contrast to Anko's calm demeanor. "Don't think you can take the moral high ground on this one, Anko. You may be prosperous, but your neighbors are poor. If you don't want the money, fine! But think of all the good it can do for Yopoko."
Anko scoffed, her short, harsh, disbelieving laugh splitting the night. "I'm supposed to believe that you two intend to share the gold with the rest of the island? That you have someone else's best interest at heart? Just like before, right? Please. You're as selfish as you are stupid. I owe nothing to the Fire Nation, nor to you. I can't believe you actually expected me to go along with this plan."
"This is different Anko," Shikimaru insisted. "If you want to sit on your mountain of coal while your neighbors are just eking out a living, fine. But we don't owe any loyalty to these outsiders. If turning them over can bring money to this island, then that is what I'll do. With or without your cooperation. You've brought this on yourself, Anko." His smirk returned. "Please, by all means, resist. After all, with you out of the way, your farm and those mines will be mine for the taking."
Anko pushed herself away from the tree, her black eyes flashing with anger. Zuko could feel a tremor run through the earth as she took a step forward. The disgust and distain she felt for the man before her resonated off of every word. "You ignorant, greedy, selfish bastard! I farm for my living, same as my Grandfather did. When this war started, my great-grandfather sealed those mines to ensure Yopoko's peace and safety. We maintain neutrality only as long as we have nothing the other nations want, and you would throw it all away just to get your hands on some money! "For the good of Yopoko," she mocked. "Is that why you kept my mines a secret, because you intended to share? As Headman, you're supposed to protect Yopoko, not sell it out for your own benefit! Get off my land," she hissed, another tremor enforcing her words, "before I finish what I started years ago."
Shikimaru's face lost all its color as the woman advanced another step. He retreated, bumping into his younger brother as he backpedaled. "They will come for those kids, Anko, whether you like it or not. And I hope the Fire Nation will do us all a favor and rid the earth of you, as well." The two hastily left as a fissure opened up beneath the earthbender's bare foot and shot jaggedly down the path towards them. Only the old man remained, apparently unfazed by the woman's anger. The earthbender took a deep breath in, letting it out in an audible hiss. Visibly calmer, she regarded her final visitor.
"Shikimaru has already contacted the Fire Nation, hasn't he?" At the man's silent nod, Anko sighed. "How long do I have?"
"I don't know. Two days, maybe three." Rikuo paused. "Anko, I can understand why you keep the coal hidden and I know that Shikimaru isn't your favorite person… but maybe this time he's right."
Anko raised her brows at the older man. "Right about what?"
The man hesitated, then continued. "Just as it isn't right to jeopardize Yopoko's peace for money, is it not also wrong to risk the Fire Nation's wrath for the well being of two strangers? Maybe turning them over peacefully, while abhorrent to you, would be what's best for Yopoko."
Anko regarded the man silently for a moment. When she spoke, the words were quiet but firm. "Rikuo, you were a close friend to my Grandfather for many years. Can you really imagine him turning two children over to the Fire Nation, even if it was the easiest route to take?" She shook her head. "You stood up for my right to inherit this farm, Rikuo. I've always respected you for that; but now I have to ask you to leave."
The old man nodded slowly, tears clouding his rummy eyes. "You… you're Kazuma's granddaughter, there's no doubt of that." He smiled at her softly. "Take care of yourself, Anko." He bowed slightly and turned to follow the others.
"Rikuo-san…Thank you, for the warning. Have a safe journey home." Anko bowed, then unhooked her lantern and walked back towards her farm.
Zuko remained hidden in the shadows as the golden lights bobbed off in two different directions. The Fire Nation was after the Water Tribe siblings and Anko apparently had no intention of turning them over. This was bad. Zuko started to once again follow the earthbender, working his way cautiously in the dark. Worse, he wouldn't be able to say anything to her about it, not without revealing the fact that he had spied on her. He stifled a growl as he left the woods. Of course, that point would be moot if she returned to the house before him and found him gone. Even if he said he was in the outhouse, he was going to have a heck of a time explaining his all black outfit. Zuko picked up his pace.
As he crested the hill, he paused with a curse. Anko's lantern was already at the barn, there was no way he was going to beat her back to the house. Well, maybe it was better this way. His spying was wrong, but at least now he could directly confront the woman about what was going on. To his surprise, though, the lantern's light didn't head for the house, but away from it. Caution thrown to the wind, Zuko ran down the hill and to the barn. He peered around the corner. Anko was apparently taking a trail he had never seen her use before. What on earth could the woman be up to now? While this was probably his only chance to return to the house undetected, he dismissed that notion almost instantly. Instead he once again stalked the light, following it stealthily into the woods.
The footpath Anko walked was narrow and ill-used. They had crossed the river, leaving the sheltering trees and underbrush behind. Now Zuko waited at the edge of the riparian strip as the lantern light climbed a rocky path. This was going to be difficult. He didn't dare move until the full moon was obscured by a passing cloud, but that would mean he'd have to climb the hill in the dark. He could hear Anko kick loose rocks from time to time and she had a light to see by. One misplaced step would alert her to his presence, so he'd have to be extra careful in following up the path. Finally, the lantern's glow disappeared as Anko reached the top of the rocky hill. Zuko watched the sky, timing his movements with those of the clouds. Keeping his profile low to the ground, the black clad Prince cautiously but steadily made his way up the incline.
He paused when the ground started to level off, peering around to find Anko's whereabouts. The light of the lantern had stopped moving. It was illuminating an area enclosed by a low stone wall. He looked skyward, the moon was about to reemerge and there was no place to hide himself. Except… deciding to take the risk, he made his way to the stone wall, crouching in the minimal shadow it cast as the moon's light returned. To his left was an opening; keeping himself pressed against the wall, he inched his way there and peeked around the corner.
Anko was there, standing motionless with her head bowed in front of one of a number of white, tablet shaped stones that rose from the ground. It took Zuko a moment to recognize what this place was. He had heard of this, that the people of the Earth Kingdom, earthbenders in particular, preferred to bury their dead. It had something to do with returning the bodies to the soil from which they had drawn their life. It made no sense to him; everyone knew that cremation was the only way to free the soul so it could pass on to the spirit world. Unbidden, the image of the maggot filled corpse he had handled filled his head. He shuttered; the idea of worms and bugs eating your body was disgusting, but to each there own, he supposed. One thing was clear; he definitely should not be here. Zuko began to back away from the opening.
"Did you ever wonder why earthbenders go bare foot?"
Zuko froze as Anko spoke in a normal conversational tone. He hoped against hope that she was speaking to an ancestor. "It's not really to aid in our bending, you know. We can bend the earth perfectly well with our shoes on." Shit, shit, shit! "It's because a talented earthbender, standing on the right kind of soil, can feel the vibrations of a mouse crossing the ground a half mile away."
Zuko's heart sank; he was so busted.
"You may as well come out; I know that you're there."
With a resigned sigh, Zuko stood up, leaving the shelter of the waist high wall behind. Anko gave him an amused look. "You're pretty good. If I wasn't an earthbender, you might have escaped my notice."
Zuko scowled. Why hadn't anyone informed him that earthbenders had this capability? "Sorry," he mumbled. "I didn't mean to disturb you."
Anko twitched an eyebrow at him. "I'm sure you didn't," she said dryly. "It's no problem; I was just apologizing to my Grandfather for causing so much trouble. Since you're here, tell me what you think of this." She tossed him the scroll that the Headman had given her before. Zuko caught and unfurled it. He moved inside the cemetery so he could read by the light of Anko's lamp. As he had suspected, it was a wanted poster. It contained sketches and descriptions of the Water Tribe teens as well as their flying beast and an offer of five hundred on gold to anyone who turned them in. And below that was another, larger picture; a rather flattering artist's rendition of the pursuer.
"Zhao!" Zuko spat the name like a curse; the scroll he was holding burst into flames and was incinerated in an instant. Guiltily, he looked back up at Anko, who still looked amused.
"Know him, do you?" She gave a lop-sided grin. "I've seen my fair share of wanted posters in my time, but that's the first that had a picture of the bounty hunter on it. He must be a real ego maniac."
"You have no idea." Zuko brushed the ashes off his fingers. Zhao again! It wasn't bad enough that he had taken the Avatar, now he apparently wanted to complete his collection. The man's thirst for glory truly knew no bounds. And Anko intended to… "Anko, you can't fight Zhao. He's an Admiral! He has hundreds of ships under his command and thousands of men, and the Yu-yan archers! He took the Avatar; you can't defeat him!"
Anko looked at him, her sardonic smile fading into a more serious look. "Well, I hardly think he's going to bring all that here." She cocked her head at him. "You needn't worry, Prince Zuko, no one expects you to fight your own people. In fact, I think your idea to leave is an excellent one. First thing tomorrow, I'll take you back to town."
"Zhao and his men are NOT my people."
"Well… perhaps not Admiral Zhao, but his men still are. I think you should consider leaving Yopoko altogether, Prince Zuko. You can leave word with Saki and she'll tell your Uncle, when he gets here."
Zuko scoffed angrily. "Stop calling me Prince Zuko! I'm a banished Prince, remember? I don't have "people" anymore! And I'm not running away from Zhao!"
Anko sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Why are you still here then? Why have you waited so long for your Uncle to return? Did it ever occur to you that a bender with your skills might be able to find gainful employment with freelance traders? Or that a Prince with your knowledge would be a very valuable asset to the Earth Kingdom?"
"Become a pirate! Turn traitor! I'd never betray my people like that!" Zuko's tirade stopped as Anko gave him a gentle, knowing smile.
"Thank you, Prince Zuko. You made my argument for me. They are your people and they always will be. That is something no one can take from you."
Zuko fell silent for a moment. "Damn it Anko, quit twisting things around! This isn't about me. What do you intend to do?"
"Who, me?" Anko gave a respectful bow to her Grandfather's grave. "I intend to go to bed. A person my age can't be traipsing around all night, not if they intend to do work in the morning." Anko picked up her lantern and started back along the path to the house. Zuko didn't bother to re-ask the question; when it came to things she didn't want to discuss, Anko was even more evasive than his Uncle. Besides, in his heart he already knew the answer.
"You coming?" Anko asked as she reached the cemetery exit. "You're infuriating," he muttered to her back as he followed behind her. A soft chuckle was his only answer. Anko paused at the top of the hill. From here, they could see her entire farm. It was beautiful in the moonlight. Zuko heard the woman sigh before wordlessly making her way back down the rocky path. He trailed after her.
Damn that bastard Zhao! What right does he have to come here? The Water Tribe peasants aren't a threat to the Fire Nation. Zuko clenched his teeth together. In the minds of Zhao and many of the Fire Nation, might made right. There was no doubt in his mind that the Admiral would burn a swath from here to Yopoko village if he felt it would net him more glory. He stared at the woman's back. Anko was no fool; she probably knew the situation was hopeless. But still, Zuko knew she wasn't going to hand the siblings over either. It wasn't as if he particularly cared about their fate; well… maybe a little. In a way Zhao had adversely affected all their lives when he had captured Aang. But that wasn't the point; it was the principle of the thing. Why should Zhao always win? And then there was Anko to consider. He owed the earthbender… a lot. If she thought he was leaving, she had another thing coming.
There was no way he was going to back down from Zhao. And as for his people, well, as their Prince, shouldn't he lead by example? If he stood up for what he believed was right, maybe some of them would too. Or so he could hope. Zuko could feel a grim smile curl his lips. He was used to battles of this nature; hard struggles against impossible odds. If Zhao thought he was going to waltz in here and take the Avatar's allies with ease, he was going to be sorely disappointed.