Author's Notes
Please do correct me if I'm wrong; so from what I can deduce from the story, there's the outer wall (the one that Azula attacks with the drill) and an inner wall (which houses the Ba Sing Se city proper). Then the monorail travels between the outer wall and the inner wall. And inside the inner wall, there's a lower ring (for refugees, craftsmen, etc), a middle ring (financial district and university) and an upper ring (fancy schmancy shizz). Did I get that right?
-TheGreatestConWoman-
The monorail finally reached the inner walls of Ba Sing Se and Kai couldn't help but marvel at the view from up above. It was so different from his quaint little town west of the Earth Kingdom. There were so many houses and establishments, almost as far as the eyes can see, all tightly packed with a few sparse trees in between.
"Lily, Lily, you gotta see this!" He whispered to his sleeping friend who only grumbled in response.
"The journey must have really tired her out..." Tan remarked as he, too, looked over the sprawling city. "But don't worry, you young ones have plenty of time to explore Ba Sing Se."
Kai nodded. "Maybe after we find what we are looking for in the university."
The monorail slowed to a stop at the station. "Lily? We're at the station. Let's go."
She opened her amber eyes tiredly and blinked up at him. "What?" She looked out the window and saw that indeed they were inside a huge station much like the one from the outer wall. "Oh..." She folded the blanket wrapped around her in her lap and handed it back to Tan, bowing her head. "Thank you for the blanket."
"You're welcome. I do hope we see you two again around. Don't be a stranger okay?"
"Of course." She smiled back and gave little Hope one last look and tickle. "I'll see you again, Hope."
Kai helped her down the monorail and they resumed their travel on foot to the middle ring of Ba Sing Se where the university is located.
"Zuko..." A recently woken Iroh shook his nephew awake. "We're here."
He opened his eyes and looked around. Everyone else had left the train and the conductor was inspecting the cars for any misplaced belongings or stowaways. They got off the monorail and explored the lower ring.
The prince looked around his surroundings, noticing that most of the houses here in the lower ring were smaller, more worn out. He looked on further and saw another wall up ahead. "So many walls..."
"Ba Sing Se is called the "Impenetrable City" for such reasons. Here in the outer ring is where most if not all of the refugees settle." They walked around the shops, looking for jobs that offer room and board. After almost an hour looking around, something finally caught Iroh's eye. "You wait here."
Zuko rolled his eyes as he watched his uncle enter a tea shop, almost skipping gleefully. He left him in the shop and went off to explore the market. Several traders and vendors had set up tents along the streets; with them are wares and goods imported into Ba Sing Se. In his idleness, he remembered what he had told Jet that morning on the ferry.
"She's dead."
Back when he was still hunting the Avatar around the Southern Water Tribe territory, he would imagine himself coming home to the Fire Nation. The thoughts of her are what kept him sane. She would be standing at the harbor, waiting for him with that beautiful smile of hers.
There would be a feast in honor of his return, and he would ask her to dance and sing to her heart's content.
There would be fireworks and he will hold her hand, and he would...
Suddenly his uncle was beside him, holding a flower vase filled with orange daisies. "I just want our new place to look nice!" He defended his purchase from Zuko's glare.
"This city is a prison." He looked around at the impoverished state of the settlement. "I don't want to make a life here."
"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not." Iroh countered and he pulled his nephew back to the tea shop. "Now come on, I found us some jobs and we start this afternoon!"
On their way to the tea shop, Iroh was suddenly shoved forward, dropping the vase, as a man and woman were running away from Earth Kingdom soldiers. "Sorry!" the woman called out, not bothering to look back at them.
Zuko quickly helped his uncle off the ground. "Are you alright?"
"I'm alright," He chuckled then looked at the direction were the young man and woman had run off. "I can't say the same for them, though."
They were about to enter the gates of the middle ring but they were stopped by the Earth Kingdom soldiers that guarded the earthen gates. "No refugees allowed inside the middle ring!"
"But sir, we need to get to Ba Sing Se University!" Kai approached the guard. "We need to see the records of organizations and—"
"And nothing!" The guard shoved him back and Lily caught him. "I said no refugees allowed inside the middle ring!"
She dug deep into her pockets and got all that was left of their money. "Will this help change your mind, Sir?"
The soldier took it and pocketed it quickly. "Not enough. Entrance to the middle ring will require you at least a hundred gold coins and a recommendation."
Lily bristled with anger. "Then give me back my money!"
"We'll consider it as downpayment." The soldiers laughed.
"Or maybe we could work out an... arrangement... pretty lady." One of the soldiers moved close to Lily and brought a gloved hand to caress her cheek.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Kai pulled the soldier away from Lily and punched him straight between his eyes, sending him reeling back.
Two other men came to aid their comrade; one pulled Kai's arms back while the other punched him all over. Lily ran to the guard and grabbed his arm before he could land another punch.
She didn't know what came over her. She grabbed the guard's shoulder with one hand and used the other to twist his arm back until he screamed in pain.
The soldier holding Kai threw him aside and picked up his discarded long staff, swiping at Lily's feet who easily avoided it by jumping up in the air and planting a solid kick on his face.
The other guards who were on break had just returned and saw the whole thing. They break off in a run towards the two. Lily grabbed Kai's hand and helped him up. "Let's go!"
They ran as fast as they could back to the market, winding through the tight alleyways and through the tents of street merchants, the soldiers hot on their tails, shouting curses and other expletives.
Lily couldn't avoid the old man carrying a vase of flowers fast enough and she crashed into his back. Kai managed to hold on to her arm and keep her running. "Sorry!" She called out, hoping the old man was alright.
They turned sharply on a corner and hid behind a tower of crates, trying to slow their ragged breaths. After countless minutes, Kai snuck a look and found the soldiers retreating. He leaned back against the crates and looked at Lily, hair disheveled and out of breath.
They burst out into laughter, clutching their stomach, tears nearly spilling from their eyes. "Are you okay?" Lily leaned close to Kai, inspecting the bruise forming on the corner of his mouth.
"I-I'm fine... But where did you learn to fight like that? That was amazing!"
Her forehead creased as she was deep in thought. "I'm not really sure... It's like my body started moving on its own. Must be the adrenaline..." He chuckled and ruffled her hair. "What are we going to do, Kai? They took all the money we have left. And they said we can't enter the middle ring without a hundred gold coins..." She looked down at the amber resin ring on her index finger.
"Don't even think about selling it, Lily!" He covered her hand with his, grasping it tight. "You've given up everything else..."
"But what choice do we have?"
He closed his eyes in thought, still breathing heavily from the chase. "We could get jobs in the market, and find a place to stay temporarily."
Lily agreed and stood up, dusting up her green pants and tunic. She held out her hand for Kai and he took it, pulling himself up. At their sudden closeness, now only did Lily realize that Kai was more than a full head taller than her and she had to crane her neck a bit to look up at him. His dark brown hair was slightly unruly, and it covered his bright emerald green eyes.
"You're staring..." He teasingly commented with a smirk.
She pushed him away with a huff and marched back to the street. "Only because you look weird!"
He was puzzled, but he chased after her nonetheless. "What do you mean weird?!"