The fire crackled gently among the cluster of men.
Zuko sat quietly, knees hunched up to his chest as the others muttered softly, not paying him any mind. He stared evenly at the rise and fall of the campfire. A cough roused him from his reverie.
"We have a new member joining us on this…excursion."
Zuko raised his eyes to study the speaker, an older man with a graying beard dressed in drab grays and black. He had crinkles around his eyes and a flat nose, giving an impression of amicability.
"So, I'd suggest we start with introductions. My name is Kazuo, commander of this squadron."
Kazuo waved his hand to the man immediately to the right, gesturing for him to give his own name.
"Shinji." said a gravelly voice.
"Mako."
"Kei."
"Daisuke."
All the men took turns going around the circle, leading to the prince, who remained silent. Kazuo seemed to take this as an invitation to continue, smiling slightly.
"You may be wondering who we are, and the truth is, there's no single answer. This group has been selected from among many elite divisions of the Fire Nation military: the Yuyan, the Raiders, intelligence, and the like. We have no designation because we carry out operations that aren't supposed to happen."
Kazuo began to pace.
"You, Prince Zuko, have been brought in for several reasons. First and foremost, you've become a piece in the game of domestic affairs that the Firelord wishes to play. You're also a replacement for a recently deceased operative."
Turning to face the boy, the older man's expression turned from open to icy.
"Despite the fact you've been forcibly handed to us, make no mistake about our expectations of you. You will comply with directives. You will learn whatever is required to fulfill the responsibilities dictated to you. Inexperience is something we cannot afford to drag our operations down, and yours will need to be rectified quickly."
Scanning the expectant faces before him, Zuko nodded. Kazuo seemed satisfied, for he moved from his rooted spot.
"Your main purpose here is as insurance. Any situation goes awry, or we need a quick getaway, you're the firepower that'll allow us to clear a path. You're the most powerful combatant of us all, but you're not accustomed to the fine details of an intelligence-gathering operation. So, you'll be hanging back and observing during most incursions into enemy territory, waiting for us at points from which we can orchestrate a departure after getting what we need."
Focusing his gaze on the prince, Kazuo smirked.
"Just like the rest of us, you're gonna need a disguise."
He motioned for Zuko to follow him, and the boy rose to accompany him into one of the tents. Kazuo pointed to a wooden chest sitting on the far end of the dwelling.
"We've got standard gear fitted and ready for you elsewhere, but each member typically dons a unique face covering. Helps with identification in the course of a mission."
Zuko opened the chest to find a collection of various theater masks, bandanas, and more. Rummaging through the pile, he quickly came across one that caught his eye. A deep blue mask with horns and stylized demonic features, all painted in stark white relief to the darker background. The grinning face both unsettled and intrigued him, and he found he couldn't let go of it.
"Interesting choice" Kazuo stated matter-of-factly. "It's from some old theater production originating in the outer islands."
Grasping the mask tightly, the prince stood and stalked to the tent's entrance. Turning back to Kazuo, he spoke.
"I know."
oooo
"Hey! Zuko!"
The prince paused from where he was oiling his swords. Wordlessly, he shifted his golden gaze onto the man approaching him.
"C'mon! Lend me a hand packing up this fish!"
He ambled over, a tad wary at having been invited to participate in an activity by one of the others. He started to grab handfuls of the cured meat and pack them into small satchels scattered about the other man's workstation. They were quiet for a time, awkwardly so, but it seemed his compatriot was itching to break the silence.
"We weren't planning on having you along."
Kei, if I remember correctly.
The man, Kei, was a fair bit younger than Kazuo, maybe in his early twenties. He was tall and lean, with tousled brown-black hair and light eyes. His movements were smooth and relaxed, similar to Zuko's own, a mark of someone who'd been trained to be as inconspicuous as possible.
"I know." Zuko responded.
Kei chuckled a bit as he threw some fish into a pack.
"This hasn't been the warmest imaginable welcome, I'm sure, but most of these guys are alright. They'll have your back out there when it comes down to it."
Kei paused to study the boy for a moment, seeming to mull something over.
"But you're not happy about that. You strike me as someone who's come in here thinking he can go through the motions of an operation without building relationships with his comrades."
He smirked a little before continuing.
"Just know that that's not going to fly. Success in this field depends on cooperation, on trust. Each of us will have to carry out elements of a plan while assuming that the others will do their part too. That one of the others will save your rear in a serious pinch."
Narrowing his eyes at Zuko, Kei tied the knot on the last of his satchels.
"Just keep that in mind."
Both men's heads turned toward the sound of Kazuo's call, somewhere off on the far side of camp. Slowly, Zuko refocused his attention on his teammate.
"I guess the commander is ready to outline our plan." Kei said. "Let's go."
Kei began to walk off toward the now loudening collection of voices. Strangely, Zuko reflected, he felt compelled to catch up and walk in step with his new…
Associate?
Yeah.
And so, he did.
oooo
"The first phase will be reconnaissance of the central administrative compound and retrieval of sensitive information we've been led to believe is located there." Kazuo boomed.
"The honorable Lord Arata of Awaji is, as I'm sure you're aware, one of the Firelord's vassals involved heavily in our nation's domestic mining and refinery operations. But, our intelligence would suggest he's been shorting the amounts of ore and processed steel sent to manufacturing facilities around the country."
Kazuo scanned the men before him for indications of comprehension and nodded in satisfaction.
"These are tense times. The Firelord doesn't want to deal with public accusations and disciplining of his vassals, so we've been given a few tasks. From the central compound, we need to obtain dossiers detailing the reported quantities of materials leaving Awaji for elsewhere. Next, from within the mining and processing facilities, we must obtain or create documentation of the quantities entering said facilities."
Starting to pace, the commander moved on.
"After establishing concrete evidence of a discrepancy, we must investigate how the lost goods are being transported off Awaji and where they are going."
"Finally," Kazuo intoned in a dark voice, "we will destroy whatever infrastructure Arata is using to carry out his business."
"Zuko, Kei, Daisuke, and I will be going to Awaji tonight to begin the initial phase and should be back in a few days. We won't be heading to the island as a full squadron until the final stage of the operation."
Kazuo focused on the men whose names he'd listed, smirking slightly.
"You three gather your gear and provisions. We'll start the journey at sunset."
oooo
They left the island in a small skiff moored at the edge of the staging ground. Painted gray-green, Zuko could see how the boat would blend into the night once the sun set fully.
Awaji seemed to be around two hours from the staging island, so the journey went quickly. Before Zuko knew it, they were pulling around to the beach of what seemed to be a moderate-sized island and rushing out onto the sand. The men worked together to drag the boat ashore before pushing it into a small grove among the trees. They hiked some ten minutes into the forest before coming upon another clearing, where they put up camp.
"We'll leave in the morning." Kazuo said in hushed tones. "The best thing to settle our nerves will be turning in for the night."
They woke at dawn the next day and set to planning. Kazuo gathered them around the fire they'd built the previous evening as they quickly ate servings of porridge and fish.
"We need to set out soon to familiarize ourselves with the layout of the island's main town. We already know where the industrial sites and administrative compound are, but we have nothing on places to reconvene after surveillance or escape upon pursuit."
Pointing to Kei and Zuko, Kazuo waved his hand.
"You two pair up and explore the areas immediately surrounding the compound. Civilian clothes are packed among our provisions."
oooo
The nobleman's villa was located on the far end of the largest settlement in Awaji. It was a sprawling complex characterized by a central, three-story villa with tiered roofs. Well-manicured grounds surrounded the building, and the entire area was encapsulated by a wall.
Kei and Zuko had decided to make the compound their first destination and were now scouting it out from the top of a tall tree.
"I checked around the back. There are two guards posted and making rounds on each of the three tiers of the villa. There are four who maintain watch over each corner of the grounds immediately around the villa. Another four hold the spires on each corner of the wall and two more stand in front of the doors. The guys on the spires and the middle tier of the building are armed with bows. Arata's got this place locked down tight."
Zuko dragged a hand down his face.
"We'll have to come up with a hell of a plan when we regroup with Kazuo back at the camp."
"You go ahead to check out the town, Zuko."
The prince looked puzzled.
"But I'd be leaving you…"
"It's fine." Kei remarked airily. "There's no use in both of us wasting time here. You go on to the town and figure out what locations could be advantageous. I'm thinking that if I stick around here till shortly before nightfall, I'll witness at least one guard rotation. That way we can get a better idea of when there could be openings for us to get in."
Zuko pondered this for a moment before nodding.
"Alright."
Leaves rustled as the prince dropped to the floor and took off.
oooo
A plan had started to formulate in the prince's mind.
The nobleman's compound and the surrounding town were laid out rather interestingly. The various businesses and settlements spreading out around it were all on a sort of plateau roughly in the center of the island. The east end was largely leveled, filled with processing facilities and quarries from which ore and rock were mined. The west was full of hills and forests leading up to a cliff formed by the central plateau.
We came up through the hills and entered the town from the side. If we need to make a hasty departure from the compound, we can head into the town to make them think we're going for the docks on the east shore. In reality, we'll just cut back through the hills toward where our boat lies and go from there.
Zuko smiled as he strolled through the town streets. They were cobblestone, and most of the buildings were lower and squarer than those found in the Caldera.
This is a quarry island. It makes sense that most of the buildings would be constructed of stone.
The sun shone brightly, and people were going about their business amicably. Zuko noticed lanterns lining the streets and festival streamers decorating many establishments.
Could be a local event occurring soon…
He noticed a tea seller running a stand nearby and decided that he'd find out.
"Sir?"
The old man smiled toothily.
"I was wondering what all the decorations are for. I'm passing through the area on business so I'm not aware of whatever…local customs you may have."
The man laughed and started to busy himself with his counter.
"Well young man, it's the annual Harvest Festival! Most islands out here have some variation of it, but the celebration revolves around the big catch of fish, not produce. This time of year is when many saltwater species return to shore to mate and lay eggs before migrating again."
"So, when are most of the festivities?" Zuko queried innocently.
"Friday of the week after next!" the tea maker exclaimed.
This place will be teeming that night…I think I've just been handed our timetable.
"Thank you very much, sir."
With that, the prince swept off.
oooo
Quiet laughter and muted conversation filled Zuko's ears as he slowly turned the meat-laden spit over the campfire. It seemed that Daisuke and Kazuo had caught a plump sheep-pig on their way back to the encampment.
Quite a pleasant surprise.
The prince smiled softly, breathing deeply and allowing the scent of the roasting meat to fill his nostrils.
And I have good news.
"So…" Kazuo began slowly. "What did you all discover?"
Zuko snapped to attention, grinning broadly.
"Quite a bit, actually. I've found out exactly what our timetable is."
Waving his hand, the commander motioned for Zuko to continue.
"The townspeople are hosting a celebration of the Harvest Festival two weeks from now. The town will be bustling, and it'll be the perfect chance to dismantle whatever transport system Arata has put in place for his goods and slip away."
Kazuo smoothed his beard, appearing contemplative for a moment.
"That seems promising. Kei?"
The other young man stepped forward and coughed.
"I hung back at the compound when Zuko and I first arrived there. Decided to keep an eye on things to see if I could figure out the pattern of the guard rotation. As far as I could tell, it's fairly standard. The guards are on six-hour shifts, and they rotate in waves, those stationed in the compound interior being replaced first. As far as I could tell, the entire process took around six minutes and was coordinated by chimes when one set of men finished being replaced."
The commander nodded.
"You'll need to give us a rundown of the compound's layout and the exact numbers of men stationed at different locations. After that, we can formulate a solid plan."
Suddenly, he clapped his hands joyously.
"Now, let's eat!"
oooo
Zuko felt strange, almost like his consciousness wasn't rooted within his body like normal. He felt as though he was watching his hands go through the motion of tying the fastenings of his tunic, pulling on boots, and sheathing his dao within their scabbard.
It's happening.
He swept out of the tent he shared with Kei, grabbing his blue theater mask. Kazuo was waiting outside, arms crossed and face inscrutable.
"We'll go to the villa now." he said.
"Kei and Daisuke will be going to the main processing facility for a few days to note the quantities of raw ore being taken in there. They're going to be moving one of the tents and some other provisions to a location closer to the target."
The prince nodded, although with a bit of uncertainty. Kazuo tried to reassure him with a clap on his shoulder.
"We'll reconvene soon enough. Now, let's go."
The pair set out a few hours past. It was a weekday evening, meaning most townspeople would be home for the night. The men hoped to minimize the chances of being seen by anyone on their way back to the camp.
Zuko felt exhilarated as he hiked through the hills looping up the side of the island's central plateau. Even though it was the dead of night, meaning his bending would be at its weakest, he still felt a tangible hum of energy within his veins.
He was serving his country today, for real.
He was on his way home, to his sister and father.
Soon enough, the villa came into view, cast in silver by the full moon above. The light caused the night shadows to dance in a stranger fashion than usual, and a light breeze masked what little sound he and Kazuo made in the night.
"A little less than two hours before midnight. According to Kei, there should be a guard rotation soon. Six-minute window, so be careful and fast."
Zuko saluted his commander and started to skirt through the trees, growing closer to the back wall of the compound. The two darted to the collection of trees closest to the wall and huddled down, both panting slightly.
Kazuo pointed to where the men on the parapets were stationed, illuminated by the torches lit all along the wall and villa's surfaces.
"When the replacements come for the men at the outermost station, we're gonna gun for the walls. The notice chimes will be sounding, and that'll hopefully mask the sound you're gonna make as you get us both up there."
Nodding, the prince fixed his gaze on the walls, building his resolve. They'd discussed this before - him using his firebending to propel both of them up the wall and into the compound interior. All they had to wait for now was the signal, but as the quiet lingered, the atmosphere became tense and unnerving. Any small sound seemed magnified in Zuko's ears, and he grew even more stressed about discovery.
Suddenly, however, the chimes sounded, and they burst into motion.
Zuko sprinted as fast as he could, keeping a close eye on his partner as they approached the walls. They could hear the scuffling and muttering of men on the parapets along with the chimes.
They reached the wall. Zuko rushed to wrap his arms around Kazuo and sent a controlled jet of flames from his feet as he leaped, sending them flying over. He let the other man go in mid-air, allowing them both to land soundlessly on the grass and rush toward the villa, crouching in the thrush beside it.
Kazuo motioned to the doors around the villa's corner, at the front of the building. They were going to wait for the chimes that would alert the men on the grounds to head inside. As those guards made their way in, the prince and the commander would follow, using them as a point of access to the villa's interior.
Before long, the sounds began, alerting them to dart out from their positions at the wall to scout for any men running for the entrances. Kazuo seemed to spot one and waved Zuko over, after which both men began to quietly tail him. They crept to where he and another man were preparing to enter, pausing until they did and the replacements emerged. Right before the replacements closed the door, they swept inside and scanned their surroundings.
Zuko saw a living space furnished with some sofas and tables. A small door was on the far end of the room, where the previous set of guards was standing and talking. To his right lay a staircase, which he immediately rushed for, Kazuo following closely behind.
We need to get away from these people.
Upstairs, Zuko and Kazuo encountered yet another living space, this one more richly furnished and with what seemed to be a drinks cellar on the far end. Through the bamboo paper walls of the room, they could see the silhouettes of the floor guards making their rounds.
"We need to get to Arata's study. That should be where all his important documents are."
The pair ventured through the floor and found another stairwell near the cellar. Following it upstairs, they found themselves in a small atrium at the end of a hallway with numerous doors.
"Stay here and keep watch." Kazuo said in a hushed voice.
Zuko drew his dao and crouched low at the top of the stairs, eyes flitting between the floor below and his commander as the older man checked doors down the hall. A few doors down, he stopped and waved back to the prince, indicating he'd found what seemed to be a records room.
Good.
A few minutes later, Kazuo came out with a bag, presumably stuffed with scrolls.
"We gotta move." he ground out.
They quickly descended the stairs and moved close to the walls, paying close attention to when guards cast shadows against them.
"When these guards rotate, you're going to jettison us off the villa and past the wall perimeters."
Zuko's eyes widened, but he nodded his assent anyways. The chimes began their tinkering sounds, and the guards outside began to laugh and voice their relief at the rotation. Slowly sliding the door aside, the prince and the commander made their way onto the balcony. Zuko quickly grasped Kazuo again and sprinted forward, summoning a gush of power from his feet and careening into the air. He marveled at the sight of the ground passing quickly behind him, but soon came to his senses.
I need to land.
As the men plummeted to the grass outside the walls, Zuko strained and conjured a small, controlled burst of fire from his soles to slow their descent. They hit the ground and rolled to their feet, immediately splitting ways and sprinting off. No signs of alarm or pursuit behind them, they regrouped and rushed toward the tree line.
oooo
"It seems we have what we need."
Kazuo had laid out a collection of papers on a rock outcropping in their camp and was now gesturing to the men before him.
"Kei and Daisuke have been spying on the various facilities around Awaji, breaking in and stealing documentation of the quantities of raw and processed material being handled by them. Zuko and I managed to get ahold of ledgers and dossiers from Arata detailing the amounts being sent to Caldera and elsewhere. We've established that quantities are being lost, meaning that Arata is indeed shortchanging."
Waves lapped lightly at the edges of the plateau the camp was situated on. Anticipation lay heavy in the air for what the commander was sure to announce.
"While my group was on the island obtaining this information, Shinji, and Mako have been scouting the waters around Awaji, keeping an eye on ships coming and going. They noted that some were Earth Kingdom, meaning it's possible that some of the lost materials are being sold off to the enemy. Regardless of the reason, it is illegal for non-Fire Nation ships to be docking on our shores, and punishment must be swift."
Looking them all dead in the eye, Kazuo's fists clenched.
"My perusal of Arata's records gave insight into how deep the corruption of Awaji's infrastructure goes. He bribes Home Guard officials to allow these ships to moor, facilitating his illicit business. In the course of our retribution, we will be taking action against our fellow countrymen, ones who have betrayed the integrity of this country."
They were all silent after this declaration, but as Zuko looked around, he noticed that none of them looked particularly dismayed.
The rest of the preparations for the final phase went quickly. Shinji and Mako explained how the Earth Kingdom vessels typically entered the docks, escorted by a vessel from the Home Guard. Kazuo chimed in occasionally to help develop a plan of attack, sharing information he'd found about the intervals at which the traders came. The group formally decided to adopt Zuko's plan of exit from the island in light of the next arrival lining up with the Harvest Festival. Soon after the discussion concluded, the prince got up to retire to his tent for the evening. However, Kazuo grasped his shoulder to pull him aside.
"Zuko."
The prince looked at the older man quizzically, a tad concerned.
"Until now, you've played a supporting role in this operation. Now, however, it's time for you to prove your mettle."
Eyes hardening, the commander gripped Zuko's shoulder tighter.
"You will do whatever is asked of you."
oooo
The party set out shortly before dusk.
Zuko noted that the sky looked especially ominous that evening, the sun beginning to bleed the sky crimson as it set into the horizon.
The entire group would be setting out today. Interestingly enough, Zuko had learned, Shinji and Mako were explosives experts and would be the ones primarily responsible for destroying the Earth Kingdom vessels. They would be hiding within the tree line, and once whatever exchange occurred between the traders and those officials meeting them, the men would venture to the ships and place the charges.
After blowing them and…eliminating those members of the Home Guard involved, the entire group would head for the town and cut back around the island to reach their skiff, which would be beached on the shore beneath a large cliff on the western end of the island.
As Awaji came into focus, Zuko could see that the town was brightly lit with countless lanterns and torches, obviously indicating the beginning of the festivities. The island shone almost like a beacon in the night. Soon enough, the boat was beached, and the party ventured onto the shore.
The men entered the forest, and as they trudged through the tree-covered hills toward the pier on the northern shore, the prince marveled at how calm everything seemed. There wasn't even a breeze to rustle the leaves, and the animals were all mostly asleep. It wasn't the kind of night he'd expect given what he was about to take part in.
Eventually, they arrived at a clearing somewhere in the center of Awaji's main plateau. The town square was visible to the east, and there was a clear view of the northern shore too. Scanning to the west, Zuko could discern the route he and Kei had taken to scout Arata's compound for the first time.
Shinji, Mako, and Daisuke motioned amongst themselves quietly before starting to walk off in the direction of the north shore. Zuko moved to follow them but was quickly grasped from behind.
"No." Kazuo said in a harsh whisper.
The prince turned back to face his commander, noting that Kei was staying back too.
"We're attacking Arata's compound."
Zuko's eyes widened fractionally before his face settled into a glare.
"What are you playing at?" he bit out. "This wasn't part of the plan."
Kazuo stared him down, daring him to question the directive further.
"It wasn't part of the plan because telling you beforehand would have psyched you out, put you inside your head, and left you unable to carry out orders. This is the plan now. End of story."
With that, the commander swept off in the direction of the villa, silently bidding Zuko and Kei to follow along. They did, quickly losing sight of the others, and flitted into the trees to avoid being seen in the open. Before long, the nobleman's house came into view, an imposing tower jutting into the night sky. The three men quickly scaled a large tree to see over the wall, and the prince noted the now-greater number of guards swarming the grounds.
"Arata must've noticed something had been stolen from his records." the prince muttered.
Kazuo nodded.
"Security's definitely been increased. We'll have to be swift when we land and cut a direct path to the front entrance. It's going to be a struggle. There'll be stiff resistance coming our way as we go up every floor. Kill the guards if you must. Relying on incapacitation will be too risky."
Zuko's head snapped up, dismayed.
"What?" he queried.
He looked to Kei for any sign of surprise but found none. Kazuo fixed the boy with a narrow-eyed stare.
"I told you that you'd do whatever was asked."
Swallowing his trepidation, Zuko nodded. Seemingly satisfied, Kazuo motioned to the spire on the left corner of the retainer wall.
"You're gonna jet us over the wall at that spire. We can rush for one of the doors and take the stairs up to the level of Arata's living quarters. Zuko, when we enter the stairway, you're going to cave in the ceiling behind us to prevent anyone from following. When we have to leave, you'll jet us off the third story, and we'll rush to the town. From there, we can lose any pursuit in the crowds and cut around the cliff to meet the rest of the squad. When they finish their part of the mission, we'll see flames and smoke rise from the north shore. By the time that happens, we have to be on our way."
With that, the men quickly descended the tree and ran toward the villa, moving in irregular patterns to avoid detection by the sentries posted on the spires. They cut through small clusters of trees when possible and quickly approached the wall. Sliding to the ground, they huddled in a cluster at the base of the left spire.
Taking position, Zuko grasped Kazuo and Kei and prepared to burst into the sky. He was in the calm before a storm, the moment so still he could scarcely believe that he would be seeing combat momentarily.
This is it.
Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply, urging his racing heart to slow. Zuko felt his chi pooling and directed it toward his feet, readying himself for a powerful expulsion of energy.
Now.
They flew over the wall, the sounds of alarm from the guards following them. Zuko let his comrades go and landed in a crouch on the grass.
Shrring.
Time seemed to slow. The prince saw a blade swinging right for the top of his head and narrowly weaved out of the way, rolling to the side and drawing his own blades. Swirling around, he cut a shallow slash into his attacker's chest before scanning around the grounds for the others, seeing them working together to clear a path toward the door.
He sprinted after them, smashing the hilts of his dao into an oncoming guard's chest. His heart was in his throat, and he could hear footsteps thundering after him. Reaching the door, he shoved Kazuo and Kei aside before blasting it in with his firebending, all three then rushing inside and gunning for the staircase. Allowing the others to pass him, Zuko spun around and sent a burst of fire into the ceiling above the stairwell, caving it in behind them. Guards on the second floor were already moving to intercept them, but Kazuo cut through them with his katana.
The men rushed up the next flight of stairs to the third floor, Zuko again caving in the stairwell. Having heard the commotion below, the guards had already collected in the floor's atrium, forcing them to engage.
He cut, thrust, and smashed with his hilts in a blur, his mind dissociating as he went through the motions of combat. Ahead of him, he could see Kazuo rushing down the hall to where Arata's quarters presumably lay, leaving him and Kei to take care of the assailants.
After defeating the attackers, Zuko and Kei sprinted down the hall, checking each door to see which one Kazuo had entered. Finally finding it, they stepped inside.
The sight that met them wasn't pretty. The study, cast in red light, was in disarray, and at its center sat a middle-aged man, kneeling, with Kazuo pointing a katana at his throat. He nodded as the two younger men entered before gesturing to them with his hand.
"We know about all of your dealings here, Lord Arata."
Staring at the floor, the nobleman said nothing.
"You know we've obtained proof of you selling quantities of ore and steel to Earth Kingdom traders, profiting off playing both sides of this war."
His head flying up, the nobleman began to shout.
"It's not as simple as that! Have you any idea how much the Fire Nation undervalues Awaji's resources? The amount my administration gets paid isn't enough to maintain or improve the island's infrastructure! The Earth Kingdom pays good money for our metal, and I'm not the only one –"
"Silence!" Kazuo exclaimed. The commander turned to Zuko, his expression inscrutable due to the dragon-shaped mask obscuring his features.
"Draw your dao."
Dread filling him, Zuko's hand crept slowly toward the hilt of one of his swords.
"Do it now!" Kazuo shouted.
He barely acknowledged the sound of his dao leaving its scabbard and the weight at his hip lessening. The commander pointed to the nobleman's shoulder.
"Cut him."
Zuko felt at war with himself, his arm shaking as he raised his blade in preparation for slicing the man. He could feel a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his neck, and the smell of incense in the room grew acrid and sickly in his nostrils.
Like a band snapping after being stretched, the tension left his body as he threw his weight into the slice, cutting a deep gash into the man's shoulder. He could barely hear Arata's howling over the magnified sound of his own heaving.
"The other one." Kazuo intoned.
Zuko sliced again.
"His forearms."
Shick.
Shick.
The nobleman was gurgling in pain now. All Zuko's senses were magnified beyond belief. He could smell the metallic tang of the blood that had dripped onto the floor. His balance was off, and it felt like he might stumble to his knees at any moment.
He heard a thud as the nobleman fell to the floor, but he remained frozen.
"Good." the commander said in a soft voice.
"Lord Arata should be…fine...as long as his staff reaches him soon. Not that it would help the damage you just did to his nerves, though. Let's go."
Kei and Kazuo moved to leave the room, the latter grabbing Zuko's forearm roughly to haul him out after them. The prince stumbled as he was dragged toward the balcony.
"Let's go." Kazuo gritted out. "You still need to get us out of here."
In a daze, Zuko linked arms with the others and shot them off the balcony. They landed and made a run for the town. Looking around, he could see fire and towers of smoke rising from the north shore.
The men sped up, but as they continued to run, it became clear that their path to the town was obstructed. Men from the villa and possibly the town had formed a large perimeter a few hundred feet in front of them, blocking the planned escape route.
Through the fog that had descended upon his brain, an idea came to Zuko.
"We need to turn around."
"What?!" Kei yelled.
"The cliff behind us. It's a long way down, but we can make it. We'll jump, and I'll slow our fall with my firebending. It's the only way out of here, especially if some of those men have bows."
Kazuo and Kei looked at each other uncertainly, seemingly weighing their options. Zuko cracked.
"You brought me here because you needed a firebender. Are you going to trust my firebending or not?!"
The older men nodded and started to sprint back toward the villa. Zuko followed suit, and all three burst into the throng of trees behind the building, rushing for the cliff. As it came into Zuko's sight, he was momentarily stunned by the view of ocean churning below, washing onto the rocky outcroppings making up the beach. Grabbing his comrades, he jumped and summoned flames, but his control was poor, and they descended in a jerky, wobbly fashion.
"Aaagh!"
A scream sounded to Zuko's right. Whipping his head to the side, he could see an arrow jutting out from Kei's shoulder.
They caught up. They're shooting down at us and we're sitting ducks.
He extinguished the fire flowing from his feet, causing them to plummet. The rocks rushed up to meet them.
And…NOW!
Zuko produced a huge blast just as they were about to crash into the ground, cushioning their fall. The group cut to the left immediately, trying to get cover and make their way quickly to the beach on the island's south end. They ran through the thicket for what seemed to be ages before emerging onto the sand to see Mako, Shinji, and Daisuke pushing the skiff out into the sea.
"C'mon! Get on!" one of them screamed.
Not wasting a moment, Zuko's squad rushed to the boat and leaped onto the deck, turning to hoist the others onto it too. Looking down to grasp Shinji's arms, the prince noticed the blood staining the dark grays of his tunic and felt suddenly sick. He stumbled back and collapsed to the deck, resting his back against the skiff's walls.
Chest heaving, Zuko stared out at the ocean as Awaji grew smaller in the distance. The water as an oily black, shimmering with starlight. His head lolled to the side, and his expression became half-lidded.
It's over.
And it could mean any number of things.
oooo
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