Chapter 58

Azula was absolutely livid with herself as she stood at the end of the plank-way, glaring into the dark waters of the Serpent Lake surrounding her. The kiss she had just shared with Katara should have never happened, and she knew it. Azula cursed her damned weakness, but Katara had been so soft and so sweet, and Azula had been more than a little tipsy. And then, after they had denied themselves for months, it had happened, and it had felt even better than in her wildest fantasies, but that in itself was a warning sign that this was a bad idea. Katara had been subtly pushing this for weeks, but still, Azula knew that she should have been stronger and that she should have resisted the temptation.

Why couldn't Katara see that the threat posed by her father was real? Azula couldn't understand that. Perhaps it was because Katara had never been personally exposed to the violence her father was capable of. Either way, Azula was frustrated by Katara's naïve assumptions that Ozai wouldn't be able to reach them in Ba Sing Se. Azula knew better than to believe that. In fact, she was absolutely certain that there were agents spying on her in Ba Sing Se. They were not Ozai's Fire Nation goons, no, that would have been too obvious. These were regular and plain looking Earth Kingdom citizens, most likely members of a clandestine government agency known as the Dai Li. There were rumors that Long Feng was tightly linked with this organization. Considering that there were also rumors about Long Feng being the shadowy puppet master of Prime Minister Kuei, Azula was more than willing to believe that Long Feng was using the resources of the Dai Li to spy on her, probably at the request of her father.

But Katara just wouldn't believe her. Katara and Yue both thought that Azula was merely being paranoid. Sometimes the sweet naivety of the Water Tribe girls frustrated Azula so much, Katara in particular with her willingness to see only the best in people. It was like she had no instincts of self-preservation when she pushed so hard for a relationship with Azula, when it was just too dangerous to even contemplate. Azula was terrified that something bad would have to happen before Katara acknowledged the danger, and Azula wanted to avoid that from happening.

The threatening letters from her father had as of late all but stopped, but unlike Katara, Azula didn't take it as a sign that Ozai was giving up. No, her father was merely changing strategy. He had asked Long Feng for assistance, and that was truly worrying. Azula had no idea how far Long Feng was allowed to go. The Dai Li was a government agency. It was possible that they could even arrange her extradition to the Fire Nation under some false pretenses. It was all very concerning. November couldn't come soon enough for Azula. She was desperate to finally confront Ozai, no matter how much she feared him. Azula felt she had a solid enough leverage to secure her freedom and stop any further interference from her father. She needed to get this done before the relationship she wanted to have with Katara became an unobtainable dream.

Azula was still quietly seething at herself as she stood on the plank-way, when she heard hesitant steps behind her, the planks wobbling slightly under the weight of someone approaching. Azula sighed. She knew that it was too much to hope for Katara to just let the matter drop. It was impossible to share such a kiss with someone and then just forget about it. Azula knew that she would be remembering this moment for the months to come. The memories of it would have to tide her over until November. It would have to be enough, because nothing more could happen right now.

"Azula? What's going on?" Katara asked, standing behind her. She sounded both incredibly soft and concerned.

"I thought we had an agreement, Katara," Azula replied. She was trying to keep her raging emotions at bay as much as she could. "I thought we both agreed that this can't happen until I've settled the matter with my father."

Katara reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, forcing Azula to turn around. As she looked into Katara's face, her expression sad and worried, Azula's conviction to remain cold and logical began to melt. "We haven't really had an open conversation about this," Katara pointed out. She was also looking a little hurt. Perhaps Azula's storming off had been a bad idea, but she had needed a moment to think and reflect. "We had a very vague and awkward sort of confession of our feelings, and how it wasn't the right time for something more between us. But perhaps it's time we discuss it openly."

"There's not much to discuss if you refuse to take the threat of my father seriously, Katara," Azula sighed.

"I know you keep saying that, but it's hard for me to take it seriously when it seems to me as if your father has given up trying to win you back," Katara insisted stubbornly. "There have been no hints of him trying anything. The last letter was more than a month ago."

"I keep telling you that we're being spied on, Katara," Azula said, frowning. "Fine, you may choose not to believe that. Call me paranoid if you want. But what about that bus stop incident? Don't you realize that you could have died?"

"Azula, I keep telling you, that was a mere accident and nothing else," Katara sighed, looking frustrated. "You're reading too much into it, seriously."

The incident in question had occurred some three weeks ago. Katara had been waiting in an overcrowded bus station, and just as the bus was approaching, someone had made contact with her and she had nearly ended up falling in front of the approaching bus. It could have ended very badly, if not for a helpful elderly gentleman managing to catch her at the last moment. Katara insisted that it was just something that occasionally happened in a crowd and someone had accidentally bumped into her back. Azula was sure that this was an orchestrated attempt by the Dai Li to hurt Katara, or at least to put some serious fear into them. It had definitely made Azula freak out. Since that incident, she and Katara had fought several arguments about it, but neither had been able to sway the other.

"If you don't believe that the threat posed by my father is real, then I don't know what you're really trying to say here, Katara," Azula said eventually. "Why would I make up something like that? You think I like feeling constantly threatened? Besides, it's the only thing that's stopping us-" she froze, feeling her cheeks heat up. "I mean… well, you know what I mean. I wouldn't invent something that's stopping me from-" Azula glanced at Katara and then realized that for some reason the other girl was now struggling to meet her eyes. "Wait a moment! You actually think that's what I'm doing, aren't you? Using my father as an excuse?"

Katara was quite red in the face from hearing Azula's accusing words. "Azula, I honestly think that you believe that your father is still a threat, I just happen to think that you're wrong," Katara said quietly. "But yes, I'll admit, I'm also starting to freak out a little. Despite what you might think, I'm not so confident that I can wait indefinitely without starting to experience some doubts."

"What kind of doubts?" Azula asked. She was on the verge of becoming angry, even if she was trying her best to understand where Katara was coming from. Right now, she was failing to understand.

"Well," Katara looked uncharacteristically timid and nervous. "I was thinking that maybe you're just afraid of committing to something serious. But I'm also afraid that maybe something has changed and you have realized that you're just, uh, not into me."

"How can you think that?" Azula barked at her in disbelief. "I haven't kissed anyone like that, Katara."

"Look, it doesn't have anything to do with reason and logic, okay? I'm allowed to have insecurities too!" Katara snapped at her, looking a little upset.

"No, you're not. What are you talking about? What insecurities?" Azula blinked, completely taken by surprise. As far as she was concerned, Katara was talking nonsense. Katara was beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, selfless and perfect in every possible way. She had no reason to feel insecure about anything. Insecurities were for mental wrecks like Azula. It wasn't as if Katara… uh, had also experienced her fair share of mental struggles, and was still on antidepressants. Oh. Maybe I have been operating under some mistaken assumptions. "Umm, I feel like there has been some miscommunication," Azula admitted sheepishly.

"More like no communication whatsoever, just assumptions," Katara sighed. "I know that it's hard to be open about these things, Azula. It's really scary to put your feelings out there in the open. But I think it's about time that we both did that. If we aren't open with each other, then I'm afraid that I might end up doing something that will hurt you. And I don't want to end up getting hurt myself because I assumed the wrong thing that wasn't communicated properly."

"I would never hurt you, Katara," Azula spoke, hoping that she sounded as sincere as she felt. But it seems like I've already hurt her a little bit, albeit inadvertently.

"I'm glad to hear that, Azula," Katara said, a brief smile appearing on her lips. "But I think I need to hear you say something else. I need to hear how serious you are about us being together."

Azula privately thought that it was a little ridiculous that Katara would need to ask such a question after being kissed like that. However, something else had by now occurred to Azula. Over the past few months, Katara had been putting in a lot of effort to constantly show Azula that she fancied her, both through words and actions. In response, Azula had mostly been reminding Katara about the threat posed by her father, and preached patience. But she hadn't done much to make Katara feel wanted and that was completely on her. Maybe it was no wonder that Katara was becoming frustrated and filled with doubts. Agni, she was such a screw-up. She had almost successfully pushed Katara away completely. Anyone else would have probably left already, without trying to talk things out. Azula could count herself incredibly fortunate that Katara was still here, willing to work through this mess caused by Azula's inability to open up emotionally.

"Katara, I'm very serious about us being together," Azula said, throwing all caution to the wind. "I've never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. I want you, Katara. I want you so much, you have to believe me. If there is anything else I need to say to reassure you, then tell me, and I will happily repeat it."

"No… no, that's enough, Azula. That's exactly what I needed to hear," Katara beamed at her. Azula's spirits immediately soared at the sight of the bright smile returning to Katara's lips. "I want you too, Azula Nakamura, and I want to be together with you, in every sense of that word," Katara's smile grew a little wicked, making Azula's heart race and forcing a particularly intense kind of heat to spread throughout her body. "Would it be okay for us to kiss?" Katara asked with adorable shyness.

Azula was dying to say yes, but something inside of her warned against it. "I really want to, Katara, trust me, but… I feel like it's just going to make not being together harder to endure," Azula sighed. "But believe me when I say that I am more motivated than ever to resolve things with my father when I visit Caldera City in the fall."

"Fair enough," Katara smiled, managing to hide her disappointment. "Well, at least that preview suggests that we have something spectacular to look forward to come November." Azula blushed, nodding fervently. "I'm really glad we talked it out, Azula. That's a huge weight off my chest, right there," Katara said earnestly.

"I'm just grateful that you forced this talk," Azula confessed. "I don't know if you've noticed it, Kat, but I often don't realize that there's some kind of festering problem until it's too late. I'm afraid that you'll have to tell me about these things," she sighed.

"Alright, I promise I will. Don't despair about it, Zula," Katara smiled. "In a way, it's just another thing that I find really adorable about you."

"You can be so weird, Katara," Azula laughed.

"I've heard that before," Katara giggled. "Anyway, kisses are out, but I hope hugs aren't," she said. Azula fervently shook her head. "Well, I'm delighted to hear that," Katara smiled, pulling Azula into a firm embrace. "My secret girlfriend," she whispered in Azula's ear.

Secret girlfriend. Azula repeated the words to herself and discovered that she rather enjoyed the sound of those two words… for now. Come November, Azula was determined to do everything within her power to make Katara her not so secret girlfriend.

Sokka stood by the window of his newly rented Lower Ring apartment in Ba Sing Se, watching one of those comically small Fiat cars pulling up to the apartment complex and a familiar looking young man with a scar prominently marking the left side of his face eventually getting out of the car. Sokka had already spent three lonely days in the Earth Kingdom capital, mostly checking the job listings, making inquiries and arranging some job interviews. Some of them had resulted in concrete offers, but Sokka hadn't committed to anything just yet, sensing that he had options here and deciding to wait for something even better to come along. Eventually, Sokka had become bored and had decided to act on Katara's suggestion, calling Azula's older brother Zuko and offering to meet up for a couple of beers. Zuko had agreed, and now here he was, on his way to ring the bell at the doors of Sokka's new apartment.

Sure enough, the bell rang and having briefly checked his appearance in the wall mirror, Sokka went over to open the doors. He decided against inviting Zuko further into the apartment since it was currently a bit of a mess, although much less of a mess compared to when he had moved in. A slightly awkward handshake and a few phrases of politeness followed, and then they found themselves back out on the street, ready to hit one of the many Middle Ring pubs.

"Shall we take your car or mine?" Sokka asked.

Zuko seemed a little surprised. "I had no idea you owned a car," he said. Sokka pointed at the Lincoln Capri, parked nearby and dwarfing the tiny Fiat. "What are you, some kind of a slumdog millionaire?" Zuko blinked.

"Just your average hard working guy," Sokka chuckled. "Honestly, I put it together almost from the scratch, that's how I was able to afford it."

"Oh, a wrench wizard," Zuko seemed impressed. "Can I call on you whenever this little trash can of mine looks like it's about to die again?"

Sokka began to laugh. Despite his initial concerns, Zuko seemed like a really cool guy, when he wasn't freaking out about his intense and somewhat frightening sister. "Yeah, absolutely," he said. "I'll probably end up working in one of the many car repair shops here. I'll let you know later where exactly I've landed."

"Cool," Zuko nodded. "Anyway, I think we should take my car. The pub is within walking distance from my place, so I figured I'd park the car next to my apartment building and then we can walk over to the pub. This way neither of us has to hold back on the beers."

"I like the way you think, Zuko," Sokka chuckled. They got into the Fiat and Zuko turned on the ignition. Zuko seemed like a confident driver and Sokka soon began to relax, watching the sights of the city around him. Honestly, when it came to the poorer districts, there wasn't much difference between Agna Qel'a and Ba Sing Se. The Earth Kingdom capital was more densely packed and louder, which felt a little stressful, but on the upside, the weather was much nicer. Outside of the summer months, Sokka found Agna Qel'a a little depressing, especially the slums.

"I hope I'm not inconveniencing you too much with this," Sokka said casually, looking out of the window. "Katara told me that you have this tournament coming up in August. I understand that you have to seriously prepare for it."

"Yeah, that's true," Zuko admitted. "But the occasional distraction is fine. Don't worry about it," he said. Sokka couldn't help but notice that Zuko seemed a little twitchy. He had been worried that Zuko, being an almost complete stranger, wouldn't be interested in hanging out with him, but Katara had told Sokka that Zuko had no friends of his own and that he would probably be grateful for the opportunity to hang out with someone around his age. Maybe Zuko was a bit nervous about meeting him. Sokka couldn't help but think that it was kind of cute.

"That's what I always kept telling Katara when she was struggling with pre-tournament nerves. She is notoriously bad at being able to relax," Sokka said.

"Really? I find that hard to believe," Zuko sounded surprised. "Your sister seems so well adjusted. She's always so calm and patient, but even then, I'm shocked that she can tolerate Azula."

"No, Katara is only human as well," Sokka shook his head. "I still remember that time in Ba Sing Se when she threw away the title in the final round. She just choked. But she learned from that lesson."

"Yeah, no kidding," Zuko snorted. "She gave me a good thrashing back in April." He didn't sound bitter as he spoke though, much to Sokka's relief. "Anyway, I guess I'm a little nervous before my first pro tournament, but not too much. It's not like I'm expected to win or anything, but I still want to acquit myself well. It's important to make a good first impression. If I do that, I will get more invites to the really important tournaments."

"Well, hopefully it will work out," Sokka smiled. "Katara may have beaten you the last time you played, but she still thinks that you're the better player. I might not know much about Pai Sho, but I know that my sister is stupidly good. That means you're crazy talented, too."

"Hey… uh, thanks," Zuko said, a little awkwardly. Sokka wondered if maybe Zuko wasn't used to being complimented. "I'll be honest, Sokka, your sister is probably underestimating herself a little. Now that she's hanging out with Azula, and that other Water Tribe girl, Yue, her skill has really taken off. I'm actually glad I can't play U21's anymore, because I don't really fancy meeting her again."

"Haha, she would be over the moon hearing you say that," Sokka laughed. "Ah, I miss my sister." Sokka then caught himself, realizing that Zuko was probably thinking about how he didn't miss his sister, which was a thought that made Sokka just a tad depressed. Big brother hating his little sister just felt inherently wrong to Sokka. "But I guess she's having a lot of fun at that summer camp of hers. I understand that you used to attend it as well, right?" he looked at Zuko. "Why aren't you there this year?"

"I feel like I've outgrown the others a bit too much to benefit from the camp. I didn't take part last year either," Zuko shrugged. "I went to visit for a couple of days last week, though."

"You don't miss taking part?" Sokka asked.

"Maybe a little bit," Zuko admitted. "But it's not like I had made many friends there over the years. Haru was cool, but he was always chasing after one of the girls, usually Kori. Ghashiun was kind of a sleazebag. He was always borrowing money for cigs and I never got a single yuan back from him. Besides, I don't know if I would have enjoyed myself at the camp this year, what with Azula working there. It was weird enough just running into her as she was bussing tables."

"I hope you at least didn't get into a fight," Sokka remarked.

"We didn't," Zuko replied. "She didn't seem up for it."

"Was Katara nearby?" Sokka asked, smiling to himself.

"Yes, but… why do you ask?" Zuko sounded confused.

"You mean, you haven't noticed that Azula is a lot chiller when my sister is around?" Sokka asked carefully.

Zuko spent some time considering this piece of information. "Huh… yeah, now I'm remembering my mom's birthday party from back in June," he said later. "Azula came together with both Katara and Yue. She didn't go after me that day, and she was decent to mom. Maybe you're onto something, Sokka. Your sister might actually be good influence on Azula. I just feel really sorry for Katara. She probably has to deal with a lot of crap from Azula. My sister knows how to make the lives of those around her miserable."

"Is that what you really think?" Sokka asked. Zuko thinking that Azula would hurt Katara made Sokka feel both sad and amused at the same time. Sokka knew for a fact that Azula was putty in Katara's hands. "I can tell you for a fact that my sister is a very strong person and she has so much integrity. She would never let anyone abuse her, not even Azula."

"Okay, well… then I don't know what to say, other than it's weird that they're hanging out together," Zuko shrugged. "Maybe your sister thinks she can change Azula or something. I know a lot of girls fall for this 'I can reform a villain' trap."

"But you said yourself that Azula already seems like a changed person, especially when she's around my sister," Sokka remarked. He honestly couldn't understand how Zuko could be this oblivious. Whenever Azula and Katara were in the same room, Sokka always felt like the gay alarm was going off so loudly that it was absolutely deafening, but somehow Zuko still had no clue about the attraction between their sisters. Sokka reminded himself that he had no right to disclose it, however. It was likely that Azula hadn't even come out to her family and he didn't want to be the jerk that outed her.

"Yeah, well… whatever your sister is doing to Azula, maybe she should keep doing it," Zuko shrugged. "As long as she doesn't get hurt, which is always a valid concern with my sister."

"I suppose I can understand why you would say that," Sokka nodded at that.

"I'm not sure you can," Zuko replied. "But… I appreciate that you're not lecturing me on how I should just get along with my sister. I get pissed off when people do that. And I know that you and your sister… well, you're like, normal people, you know? You have a normal, tight sibling bond. Azula and I, we're never going to have that, despite the hopes of my uncle and my mom. There's just too much ill will."

"It's hard for me to truly understand, but I don't want to invalidate your experiences, Zuko," Sokka said. "I mean, Katara and I have had our fair share of fights and arguments, but overall, we have always had a good and supportive relationship. For someone who only has that experience to fall back upon, I hope you can understand how the thought of siblings feuding the way you do feels really upsetting."

"Hmm, I think I can see where you're coming from," Zuko nodded after a moment of thought. "You know, you seem like a pretty cool guy, Sokka. I didn't know what to make of you at first. Did you know that a lot of kids who play Pai Sho look down on their peers who don't play and think they're simpletons?"

"Haha, you thought I was a simpleton?" Sokka laughed. He was too amused to feel annoyed. "Well, I do love to chug beers and watch ice hockey, so maybe I am a simpleton."

"No, I don't really think so," Zuko looked genuinely apologetic as he spoke. "Ugh, I'm such a jerk for implying that. I was working up to saying that you seem like a pretty insightful dude. And I, uh, kind of need someone like that to now and then point out the obvious things to me."

"Happy to be of help," Sokka chuckled as the Fiat pulled into the parking lot next to a modern looking five storied apartment complex.

They got out of the car and Zuko locked the doors. "Right, as I was saying… the pub is close by, so let's just walk over there," he said.

"I suppose I can always call a cab to get home," Sokka nodded to himself.

"Yeah, exactly," Zuko agreed. "Or you could just crash at my apartment. There's lots of space, we have four rooms. And my mom is away for the weekend. She's staying with her new boyfriend," he added, looking a little miffed at that.

"Don't like the guy, huh?" Sokka asked. Zuko seemed really protective of his mother. Katara had implied something along those lines. Sokka also found it a little curious that Zuko was still living with his mother, even though that would have been considered perfectly normal in the Water Tribes. If Sokka had ended up marrying a local Cape Kuruk girl, she would have been expected to move in with the Enuaraq family. Families tended to cluster together and there was no social pressure for children to leave the nest unless they were desperate and had the means to do so. As far as Sokka knew, it was different in the Fire Nation. Zuko would probably be catching a lot of ridicule for still living with his mom at the age of twenty. Sokka wasn't judging, though. He knew that the Nakamura family dynamics were all messed up. Zuko probably felt like he had to take extra care of his mom.

"No, Ikem is a decent guy," Zuko replied. "It's just that… mom has been through a lot. I didn't expect her to take the chance and try dating again. There are always risks, you know?"

"But also rewards," Sokka winked at him.

"Uh, sure," Zuko blushed lightly. "It's just that… I don't think Ikem would hurt mom, but if he does? There will be blood." The statement was very simple, but Sokka could sense that Zuko meant every word. He found himself quite fascinated by the intensity of the Fire Nation boy. "Anyway, there's the pub," Zuko said, pointing at the slightly rundown looking establishment just ahead. "Let's toast yet another exile settling in Ba Sing Se, shall we?"

"Sounds good to me," Sokka grinned. As far as he was concerned, his decision to call Zuko was quickly proving to be a very good one.

It was the final day of the summer Pai Sho camp, and having said farewells to the last departing participants, Yue found herself choking up a little as she stood by the gate and continued to wave at the car as it sped away. The last ones to leave had been two young Water Tribe girls, only twelve years of age, enjoying their first time at the camp. In a way, they had reminded Yue of herself and Katara from many years ago, when they had forged a bond that they both knew would last for a lifetime. Upon leaving, the two girls had hugged Yue and shyly whispered that she had been their favorite counselor at the camp, a confession that was now threatening to send Yue bursting into tears. She had become deeply attached to some of the younger kids in particular. Yue had tried to do all she could to make these children feel safe and comfortable during what was the first time away from home for so long for some of them.

Yue was having a very hard time getting a hold on her emotions as she stood there by the gate. Living with Azula and Katara in the Ba Sing Se estate and working at the Jasmine Dragon was a relatively simple life that had its charms, especially because she got to hang out with her two most favorite people ever. But it was during this summer camp when for the first time in many months, Yue actually felt useful and took satisfaction from the effort she had put in. And now that it was all over, Yue instantly felt a painful sense of emptiness deep within her chest.

She probably would have stood silently by the gate for a while longer, if not for the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her. Yue turned around to regard Uncle Iroh, smiling at her. "It's sad to watch them leave, isn't it?" Azula's uncle said quietly. "I remember feeling this strange emptiness after my first camp ended. At least with years it has become easier to deal with."

"I'm going to miss those kids," Yue sighed, nodding.

"And I get the feeling that many of them will miss you a great deal," Iroh smiled at her. "You were a huge help to me this year, and so were Azula and Katara. But I was particularly impressed by how good you were with the kids."

"Thank you, Uncle Iroh," Yue blushed lightly.

"It actually gave me an idea," Iroh continued. "Now and then, I get contacted by the rich parents of some Pai Sho hopeful, asking if I could do some private tutoring of their child. I always refuse, but… watching you interacting with these kids gave me an idea. I could refer these people to you. Perhaps you would be interested in making some extra money by offering private Pai Sho lessons?"

"I…" Yue was taken aback by the unexpected offer. "I would love to!" She then hesitated, thinking of something. "Umm, why haven't you offered this to Azula or Katara?"

"I don't think that it would be good for my niece. She has many talents, but she is not the most patient sort. I think some of the kids would just frustrate her, and that could result in stress she doesn't need," Iroh explained. "Katara would be a wonderful tutor, I agree, but she was so committed to her medical studies that I didn't wish to distract her."

"I guess that makes sense," Yue nodded. "But I plan to enroll in September as well. Between studies, the Jasmine Dragon and practicing Pai Sho, I don't know if I will find the time to offer private lessons," she sighed.

"You can give it a try and see how it goes. If it goes well, you might not need your job at the Jasmine Dragon anymore. Some of these potential Pai Sho students come from very rich Earth Kingdom families, and they would be able to pay you very well," Iroh explained. "Also, speaking of your studies… have you finally settled on what you want to pursue?"

"I'm still leaning towards literary studies," Yue said. In all honesty, she didn't feel as committed as she felt she ought to be. Literary studies were simply the safe choice for a very indecisive girl who still couldn't make up her mind.

"Having watched you interacting with the younger kids at the camp, I would like to make a suggestion," Iroh said with a smile. "Have you ever considered becoming a teacher? I can't help but feel that it could be your calling, Yue."

Yue blinked at the old grandmaster's words. For some reason, she had never considered becoming a teacher, but now that Iroh had voiced the idea, Yue immediately realized that maybe she should think about it. She loved children, and for whatever reason, most of them seemed to take to her very well. Yue didn't want to make a rash decision right away, but somehow, she instantly knew that Iroh was onto something here. This immediately felt like something that she could become very passionate about.

"I think you have just opened my eyes to a very exciting possibility I had for some reason never considered," Yue smiled, feeling elated. "Thank you, Uncle Iroh. I will very seriously consider your suggestion."

Next chapter: We finally introduce a beloved character who much to my shame has been absent from this story for far too long.