Looks can be deceiving
Etherealstar
Author's notes: Zuko will soon be tied to Katara. You'll see. Please have a lil faith in me guys. Thanks to all for being sweet with reading and reviewing. Angels be with you.
Disclaimer: Avatar and Avatar Manga is owned by Nickelodeon and Sitcom. All rights reserved.
Chapter 5: Mystery Man.
"Where to sir?" asks the rickshaw driver.
"This exact address" the brown head stranger said handing the man the piece of paper.
He whistles. "This is very far sir, you may have to take an extensive drive. The furthest I can get you is to the East Rickshaw City, from there just ask them to go straight to the second part of your address."
"Thank you, I'll do that" the kind stranger said.
"Sure, no problem." The man lifted the two wheeled carriage with the stranger leaning back into his seat. "Hold on tight, sir." And as was said the stranger heeded.
In the dead of night where all the world was silent and hushed in quiet sighs, strange persons paraded the world. Some in dark cloaks, others bravely showing their identity, yet all alike to one another they had the same mission. To meet people of importance. To talk strategy, to hire killers and to have the upper hand in the sweet game of revenge.
Like the men of this world this lone stranger in the rickshaw, bowed his head as he thought of his pass actions and where it lead him. Angry because of the wager he made especially with the one he loved, he swore to avenge her in the name of love.
Running fast over the dry earth under a pale moon and a dark sky, the stranger looked at the world that passed him only in stretches of colour. He could hear nature sing to him with the insects all out and echoing over the dark green. He passed a lake and gasping at the lone young woman, his mind played cruel tricks on him as he envisioned her. Everything reminded him of her and it was a bit annoying and yet at the same time deserving.
"So sir, what's the rush to get to the Fire Nation village?" asked the driver.
"Unfinished business" said the stranger.
"Ah hah! You're not thinking of publicly insulting yourself by egging on the Fire Nation members right?" the driver asked.
"That's the least of the stupid things I'd do my friend" the man said.
"I see then" he said.
"Why, did some one do that to the Fire Nation?" the stranger asked.
"In a way I don't feel I should tell you" he said.
"And why not?"
"The Fire Nation is very strict with how information is passed. They don't want it to be grape-vine because they're afraid people will get the wrong conception of them." He paused, "and besides, I'm just a local's man living my life good. I have a family to provide for and it would be awfully hard if the Fire Nation came for me and flogged me senseless" he said.
"I see. I'm sorry I to hear that. But I assure you, I out of all persons would never side with the Fire Nation or pass information. Not after all they've done."
"You don't like them huh?" he asked
"I hate them" he said dryly.
"Hah…fine, you've convinced me."
"Convinced you?"
"I'll tell you what happened in the village but I never told you." He said.
"Alright. Agreed."
"Recently two of the town's people were imprisoned by the Fire Nation. Ozai himself came to collect the first of the freedom fighters. According to rumors, they'll be executed at the end of the week." He paused.
"And tell me my friend, who are these two freedom fighters? By name" he said.
"One is a local's boy and the other, is the Avatar himself"
The stranger clenched his hands. 'Damn'
"Are you sure?" he asked
"Positive. There's been news about the Avatar's imprisonment everywhere in the town and it's for that same reason the Fire Nation has the entire city on a watch. They don't want people to get any misconceptions about them. But if you ask me, it's a little too late for that. Their scandal is out and now it's just a matter of time before some brave man comes and revolts again. It's the beginning of the end for the Fire Nation, that much I know 'cause I can taste it" he said.
The stranger rubbed the digits under his chin. 'Interesting, somehow this news about the Avatar's capture doesn't bring the people to fear and sorrow, instead they search for another freedom fighter. So--has the tables truly turned? Of course, why else would the Fire Nation try to keep everything hush-hush. Because they're afraid, especially that old couth called Ozai' he thought.
The stranger allowed his eyes to look at the sky which was now turning a shade of yellow. 'The morning light is coming. I must be in the village at 10 otherwise my little enemies will be on to me'
"My friend, please…I need you to go faster. It's very urgent that I get to the Rickshaw city"
The man heaved, "sir, I've been running for the longest while, I don't think I could run any faster"
"Please my good man, I really need to make it to the city" he said.
The man sighed, "very well"
The man gripped the carriage a little harder and ran faster. Passing houses and a few of the early merchants, the stranger bit his lip. He couldn't afford to be seen.
Running just a little further, the rickshaw driver pulled over. In front of them was the huge Rickshaw City that exploded with rickshaw drivers and passengers. The stranger hopped off and turned to the driver.
Taking out the yen (money) from his pocket he took the man's hand and stuffed the money in.
"For your children and for everything you've done" the stranger said and was off.
The man looked down at the money. He glowed, it was more than enough money.
Smiling he shouted: thank you stranger!
The stranger nodded and disappeared into the busy crowd of the morning. Seeing the light breaking through the dark clouds, the stranger found himself a driver who would take him to the Fire Nation city.
And with two minutes gone, he was back on the road heading to his destination: town.
She awoke with a splinting headache.
'Oww' she was about to rub her soar temples when she realized her hands were wrapped. Piercing an eye open she saw her hands in bandages.
'What the!' she looked at herself and there in front of her was a sleeping Suki. She blinked back. 'What happened?'
Lying down and reflecting of the night before, a certain sadness returned. 'Of course, how could I forget?' It'd been her brother and Aang who were captured and then she got the worse beating ever in her life. Slowly bringing herself to sit up, she found pains ripping across her body in series.
Holding her ribs, she pushed herself up. Letting out a sigh, she poked at her sleeping friend. The young girl slightly stirred but not much. Poking her harder yet another time, she stirred. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked on at the 'upright' Katara.
"Oh my Katara, you're not suppose to be sitting up" she complained.
"Where else am I bandaged Suki?" was Katara's dry question.
"W-Well, in a few places. Your ribs, your shoulders..your face?" she winced saying it.
"She hit me on my face?" Katara repeated.
"Slammed, thrashed and banged is more like it" she said.
"Give me a mirror" Katara said seriously.
Suki saddened. She really didn't want Katara to see herself, especially like this and after all that Katara said about her face. Katara said out of all the amazing things about her, her face was the most distracting and it gave her great self-confidence, but if she saw her face now she knew she would never think so again.
"Katara-chan" she pleaded.
"Give me a mirror Suki"
"Katara-chan no…you s-should be resting, yes, resting I say" Suki said.
"If you don't give it to me, I'll get it myself"
"Please Katara, don't fight me, you're not that able-bodied" she said.
"Fine! Suit yourself" Katara lashed out.
Pushing herself to her feet, Suki knew she would rip the stitches from the night before. She couldn't have that happening.
"Alright fine Katara, you win, I'll give you what you want, just all's I know is that you're not going to like what you see"
Picking up the mirror she sighed. "Here" she handed Katara the mirror.
Katara took the mirror and flipped it to see her reflection. And in that moment it seem like all the oxygen in the room had gone and gravity was two folds more on her. She gritted her teeth and her eyes leaked tears. Scars and welts everywhere on her face she gripped the mirror tightly wanting to cry. The tears fell and though it should have been sadness she cried for, it was anger.
Katara let go of the mirror and it broke into a million pieces.
"I hate her Suki" Katara said. And with that she cried.
At 6am Katara met with the mistress and was given a long lecture. Returning to her room around 8am, she sat there just allowing her eyes to trail.
Katara tried to forget everything the woman had said. But she wished herself luck by just trying. Hearing the sound of chirping birds and the busy noises of people commuting in the village. She dazed for a moment knowing that with scars like this it kept her from her job. Katara saddened. She liked being a Geisha. She was a highly adorn geisha who brought in good money for the geisha house. Like any of the girls, Katara worked hard for her dollars to make the mistress happy, but her mistress—Katara sighed, "is not the easiest of persons" to like at least. And after everything she did and had done the mistress still refuse to acknowledge all the merits and money she had brought in. Katara sometimes like to believe that without her the geisha house would be nothing. But that was just sometimes what Katara thought.
Slumping against the wall, Katara heard the gates clink against each other. Today the entire geisha house was invited by some of the rich merchants of the city. A huge breakfast was right on its way and it strongly crossed Katara out. Scowling that the mistress had done this and was to be blame for everything she pounded her fists into the floor.
'How could you? You've taken everything from me your wretch! You've killed my drive to be what I love and now all I can feel is pain as a result.' Katara averted her eyes to the ground.
'Is this what they want G-d, my life? Must every person that I know be the enemy that I fear? Wasn't I tortured enough as a child losing my both parents in a vile way? It was never easy growing up with Gran Gran and having all the girls calling me boy because I hung out with my brother and his friends. It was never easy becoming a geisha but when I learned my craft I perfected it and you know what I even liked it amidst all that happened to my village. But then I was tested further by having my brother and friend imprisoned by the Fire Nation. Life was never easy Kami (G-d). And every single time something is actually going for me, something comes and breaks me down. I lose my faith and I begin to believe that I'm completely jinxed. Is that it?'
'I feel sorrow but equally anger. Anger for what they've done. They've taken all I've love and I can't fight against them. I want everything to be alright but who am I fooling when everything keeps falling apart. Please Kami (G-d) don't let me fall, at least, not like this…'
With her heart broken and her mind in a rage, Katara felt thorn up between who she was and her problems. Facing them seem to blow her away every time she tried to make sense of them.
'Megumi' she growled
It was then she heard a noise. It sounded as if somebody was knocking at her window and it was then she realized, somebody indeed was. Gasping at the hooded figure at the window, Katara practically screamed within that it really wasn't the perfect time to be injured.
Scuttling toward her door, she did her best but her efforts were futile when she heard heavy footsteps approaching her. It was then she stopped when she heard her name.
"Katara?"
Scared and still badly hurt from her wounds she turned around and peered the stranger a look. Still not seeing into their eyes, the stranger stooped and took off their hood.
With her tongue caught in her throat, she wondered if screaming or being cool would keep her alive.
"Youu!" was all she said.
To be continued…
