I promised you all updates would be much quicker with my semester break happening and I intended to deliver . I'm actually more surprised by how quickly I was able to get this chapter out , or maybe that's just because I have a lot of free time now.
Either way , hope you all will be happy with the faster updates now.
:P
Now about this chapter ...oh god this chapter was such a treat for me to write. You know ,I gotta say that I was getting kinda bored with constantly writing about Azula and the rest of the Fire Nation fam. So Hammer's suggestion of changing the focus from Azula to Kazumi for these past few chapters have been a very good idea !
Speaking of which , big thanks for HammerTide for beta reading this chapter !
With that said , let's get this one started !
It had been another relatively peaceful day for Kazumi and Azula. The older woman was very much glad that Azula had been improving mentally and physically , the fire in her steadily growing with each passing day ... it made Kazumi both proud and happy to see Azula getting better. Like a proud turtleduck mother watching its babies learn how to swim for the first time.
Kazumi instinctively lightly slapped herself on the cheek for thinking such thoughts again. It seems that her own mind had been betraying her more and more these days ...
It wasn't as if it was the first time she had been betrayed by her own mind.
Kazumi shook those thoughts away , she had to keep herself focused. Not just for herself ...but Azula as well.
And she had some very important business to handle tonight.
She stood up and looked out her window to see the night sky shine beautifully. The stars flashing brightly as if each one was a prayer for an unfortunate soul on this world. She vividly remembers the days when her own mother would take her on a trip to some of the more beautiful spots of the forest. While she will admit that animals and plants here in the forest are certainly some of the wildest , it was only because the Mother of Faces wished for the Forest to remain untrifled and undisturbed by human matters. With the exception of Kazumi's own family line of course.
She briefly wonders if Azula would like to take one of those trips. She had been staying with Kazumi in her house and in her little patch of land for over 2 months now , so she wonders if Azula would appreciate a change in scenery for a while and-
Kazumi finds herself once again lightly slapping herself on the cheek for thinking things like that.
She looked up at the moon and saw that it was full tonight and it was shining down providing an equally grand lighting.
Should provide a pretty good setting for her plan tonight.
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath ...right as she channels energy into her transversal.
In the next instant she was standing in front of Azula's door , it had been a few hours since dinner and the young girl had already turned in. With very trained carefulness , she gently opened the door to see the sleeping form of Azula on her bed. Kazumi let out a silent breath of relief as she takes a quiet step into Azula's room and makes her way over to the side of her bed.
Azula looked ...peaceful for once . No nightmares , episodes , just ...she looked at peace.
Kazumi smiled gently , she deserved it. No child should have to be haunted by their mistakes.
Kazumi didn't know what took over her ...but she found herself gently reaching out to touch Azula's cheek , if only so gentle.
There's a hesitance in the way her hand moves ...but she managed to gently cup the side of her face very gently.
Kazumi looked at Azula sadly as she thought about all the things she had done for the girl.
I broke my vow ... showed her my powers ... shared my past ... why ?
Why did I do all those things ?
Would I have done the same for any other poor girl who was unfortunate enough to end up in a place like the Forgetful Valley ?
Kazumi didn't know . Maybe . She wasn't sure.
But she was certain that she ...cared for Azula . Maybe more than she should have allowed herself to.
And that's why she was about to do this.
Quickly transversing out of the room and into the hallway , Kazumi made her way down the hall until she reached a particular small mat that had been placed in the middle of it.
Mother always knew how to keep secrets.
Kazumi pulled the mat off and hidden beneath it was a latch. She pulled the heavy hidden door up and as gently as she could set it down , she didn't want Azula waking up and finding out about this.
Kazumi descended down the dusty stairs , she ponders on how long it had been since she had last come down here . Years at least by her own count.
Once she reaches the bottom , she walks down the short hallway that was similar in nature to the one upstairs with sliding doors on each side. Pertaining to a different room.
Kazumi's house had more secrets than even Azula knew.
She stops in front a specific door and opens it , entering a large room that had plenty of shelves and boxes filled with numerous items.
Her mother had explained to her once that over the many years and the several other spirit navigators that came before them , that they had collected several artifacts , weapons and armor over their long history.
Kazumi honestly likened it to her family line being sentimental and wanting to keep some souvenirs. And seeing as how the storage room was so dusty and there were many cobwebs in some places , Kazumi has no doubts that her mother would throw a fit and scold her over being 'disrespectful' to her ancestors and family line.
Kazumi smiles at the thought of her mother's scolding voice in her head , before reminding herself of what she needed.
It took her more than a few minutes to find what she was looking for since it had been quite some time she had last set foot in this room. But at last she managed to find it ...
A chest that had accumulated some dust and Kazumi recognized it as her mother's ...
She just hopes that her mother won't mind her borrowing this , its not like her own would fit anymore.
After opening the chest and getting what she needed , Kazumi quickly head back up the stairs and closed the secret room off . Setting the mat over again to hide it once more.
Entering her room once again , she sets her tools for the night on her bed. Dusting off one particular item due to how long it has been out of use , but it was still as beautiful as ever once the dust was off.
Kazumi made sure to double check that she had everything she needed ...
It was time for her to put on a show.
If Shin was still a rookie , he would probably resolve to bashing his head against a tree in frustration at how little progress they were making. But his years as a captain had taught him very well how to handle frustration.
He was still very much frustrated , just internally.
And from the annoyed and irritated looks on the rest of his teams faces , he was not alone in this.
They had spent yet another day making no progress of figuring out what had happened to Princess Azula. At first, Shin had been optimistic from the few sparse clues they managed to uncover in relation to the princess . But they had yet to find another lead and the optimism was honestly starting to run dry. As if it hadn't already dried up weeks ago.
Now they were all huddled around the campfire , they had set up camp pretty late and had just finished their dinner. Though on the looks of everyone's faces made it clear that none of them were ready to turn in yet.
" So...does anyone want to sing any songs ? " Cheng lightheartedly suggested to break some of the tension. All he got in return were blank stares from the rest of the squad.
Shin let out a sigh , as he continued sharpening his blade . He wanted it to be prepared at all times.
None of his team were talking much , besides the select few who were drumming up some conversation with the others ...
So that meant Shin's hearing could be much more focused on what was around them. Keeping an ear out for what was happening.
They had to constantly be alert in a forest like this , and if their most recent animal attack was any indication ...they were not alone.
Thankfully it seemed like all was somewhat well in the forest tonight. All that could be heard by him was the crackling of the fire , the words passed between his men , the subtle noises made by the insects and animals off in the distance ...
And the sharpening of his own blade of course.
Yes , it seems that all was well in the forest tonight.
Maybe he could finally get some real rest , he should probably tell his men to pack it in and go to sleep already. He internally rolled his eyes at having to remind his men to sleep as if they were children.
" Alright boys , time to hit the sack , we got a busy day tomorrow and-"
Shin didn't finish his sentence.
He felt the hairs on his neck stand up suddenly... and that feeling came back.
The feeling of being stared at by a predator.
He turned around with his hand on his blade , only to see nothing but the darkness of the forest staring at him back. Agni knows what might be lurking in it...
" Captain ? Is something wrong ? " Zheng asked worriedly.
" ...I just got a bad feeling of being watched ..." Shin admitted , his instincts still flaring like crazy.
" Watched ? But what would-"
Cheng never got to finish his sentence as all of a sudden a fog rolled in out of nowhere ...just like that night.
" What the hell ?! " Shin shouted in surprise as he unsheathed his blade and the rest of his team followed suit.
" Stay close together ! "
" Watch the treeline !"
" What the hell was that ?! "
Several of his men shouted in panic , as their grip on their weapons were unsteady.
The fog was too sudden and came out of nowhere , as if something had called it upon them ... and the fog had encircled them completely.
Shin's heartbeat started beating faster , as his breath was becoming faster as well ... he was scared of what was to come and by the sounds his men were making... they were afraid too.
Shin waited ... as if prepared to take on whatever came out of the fog.
" G-Guys ...look " Zheng pointed out with a shaky finger
And then he saw it ... a figure step out of the fog and into their sight. Not even appearing the least bit threatening , at least on the surface.
It was a woman.
A very, very beautiful woman if he had to say so.
She carried no weapons , and looked quite calm despite the group of men wielding weapons right in front of her. Her beauty was incomprehensible , she had raven black hair and was dressed in a white kimono.
She looked so beautiful and yet ...
Shin felt as though they were standing face to face with a very dangerous predator- no ...monster.
A beautifully horrifying monster.
The dread filling his and his men's hearts.
For a time ...they were all struck silent . You could hear a pin drop and Shin was certain ... he couldn't even hear this woman's breathing.
" ...I hope I'm not interrupting anything ..." The woman spoke after a time.
As she slowly walked toward them ...Shin and his team moved back subconsciously. The fear and dread shared by all of them.
The woman stopped close to the fire and knelt down next to it ...extending her hands close to it to get its warmth.
" Tell me..." The lady spoke again " What is a group of men such as yourselves doing in a forest like this ? "
Nobody moved to answer her question . All of them too afraid.
Shin just barely mustered up the strength to force the words out " W-We're ...searching for a young girl you see ..."
" Oh ? "
" Yes ...she u-um ...went missing in this forest a while back and we're ...searching for her " Shin explained stutteringly " Her family is ...very worried you see..."
The lady didn't respond right away ...but instead let out a cold and rueful laugh.
It was easily one of the most horrifying laughs he had ever heard.
The way it lacked any sort of humor , the coldness behind it ...and something even more sinister.
" ...My apologies ...I just find it a little funny ..." The lady said , a phantom smile on her face " That her family actually pretends they care about her ..."
On any other day ...Shin would have immediately jumped up in defense of his lord and his family ...but not this time . Not to this woman. This monster.
Shin and his men were officially scared shitless as the lady stood up and faced them. All of them practically shaking in their boots and the hands that held their weapons were so shaky they might come close to dropping them.
The lady gave them all a wicked smile.
And Shin knew they had waited too long...
They didn't have time to scream as the fire had suddenly gone out ...
Shin could hear the erratic panicking of his men at their only light source extinguished ...
But their time in the darkness was not long ... as of all sudden a something had blasted them with fire and lit up the camp. Shin had to cover his face to protect from the heat of the flames and he saw that the camp had suddenly been lit on fire...
But this was no ordinary fire ...they were colored white and he could only stare in terror at them.
Shin could not speak . His voice died in his throat as he saw the lady ...
Now flying above them with angelic white flaming wings ... she looked down at them as if they were insects beneath her boot.
The lady flied down a little closer , to the point where Shin could see that her eyes were glowing a blood red .
The lady did not speak . Her eyes told everything. Which made it even more terrifying when she did open her mouth.
But it was not words she let out.
" RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Shin had to cover his ears to block out the sharp inhuman wailing...
He could see blood was starting to pour out of her mouth and eyes ...
And her eyes turned directly at his team ... at him.
That was all it took for Shin and his men to abandon whatever pride they had...
Shin and his team dropped their weapons and made a run for it out of the forest.
They kept running and running and running and running...
Not even stopping to breath or look back to see if the lady was chasing them.
Shin breathing was ragged , heightened and every instinct was telling him one thing.
'Run'
And he agreed with them wholeheartedly.
Any thoughts about the mission , Princess Azula or his reputation had completely left his mind...
All that mattered to him now was just getting the fuck out of this forest.
Shin didn't how long they had run ... but they started to see the faint lights of a village through the dense bushes and vegetation .
They had somehow managed to make it all the way back to Hira'a...
And the second they emerged out of the forest ...they promptly collapsed onto the grass.
Shin was too exhausted . Too tired . Too out of breath to move another inch.
The last thing he heard before he lost consciousness ... was the sound of his men calling his name.
She watched the men was they fled from her . As if she were some monster in the night that had come to drag them into the forest to never be seen again.
Well , they were half right.
She quickly cancelled out the fog and transformed out of her 'form'.
She was glad that her abilities still had some uses.
It seemed that her plan to frighten the soldiers had worked and they had finally been pushed back out of the forest at long last.
She did it . Azula was safe now.
Kazumi looked at the campsite , how she had set their tents aflame and made the soldiers abandon all of their supplies and weapons.
She needed to burn everything. She could not leave a single trace of their presence here.
That was her duty after all.
Kazumi looked up at the beautiful night sky ... and let out a tired but relieved sigh.
It was going to be a long night for her ...but it was all worth it.
As long as Azula is safe , it was worth it.
Kazumi used that thought to push herself , as she got to work destroying the evidence.
It was a good thing she hadn't hoped to get much sleep tonight anyway.
I hope you guys enjoyed reading this as I enjoyed writing it , because this was so fun for me to write and I personally think that this was one of the more finer chapters of the story.
Though I can't take all the credit here since this idea was actually given to me by HammerTide so let's all give a round applause !
:P
Anyway , the next chapter will focus on what happened to the Yuyan Archers and more of our ever lovable Zuko and the Fire Nation fam so I hope you are all hyped for that !
With that said , I'll see you all in the next one.
Angel Out.
