So, not going to lie, sometimes when I write these chapters, I have the music playing from LOST going on in my head. That really dramatic, cheesy, slow music when happy or sad things happen. I don't know why lol, but I do. But here's another chapter for you : ) Keep reading, there's still lots to happen! Oh, and if you get bored…feel free to read PART ONE of the old version and tell me what you think- I mean it though ONLY part one. If you read into part two, then you will SPOIL THINGS for yourself and that's no fun. Anyway, my old name was writernebie (I was such a newbie that I forgot the w in newbie, I know right? Lol) But like I said…JUST READ PART ONE. Don't ruin the story for yourself by reading more :P And be warned lol, I'm a better writer now than I was when I was 14.
P.S. Thanks for the reviews : )
P.S.S. This chapter is very short. It isn't meant to have any dialogue in it. Please, PLEASE, go to you tube and type in the song : LOST: Life and Death Theme. That is the song going on while this chapter plays, it won't be the same unless you listen to that song. Thanks : ) Just ignore the very end of the song. Keep replaying it until you finish reading. : )
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Kaori stared into the mirror, looking herself over. Never before in her life had she felt so right. The white dress she wore just seemed like it had been waiting for her to put it on. It clasped right below her breasts, then flowed outwards, trailing behind her slightly. Red flowers traveled up one side of the dress, blooming beautifully in pale oranges and yellows. It was the perfect mix of the calm white of air and the bursts of fire.
Behind her, Aliruko stood, smiling at her friend. Kaori smiled widely at her, reaching back a hand, which Aliruko took and grasped tightly. Kaori touched the top of her head, adjusting the flowers that were in her hair. She looked beautiful, and her stomach was only slightly pronounced- if anything, it simply looked as if she had gained a few pounds.
There was a knock on the door and a man stepped in, giving the girls a nod. Still holding onto Aliruko's hand, Kaori nodded, stepping away from the mirror and towards the door, Aliruko following. The girl's laughed with one another, Kaori's eyes shining brightly.
When they got to a set of doors, Kaori paused, turning to Aliruko. She reached forward, brushing a tear off her firend's cheek with a finger, and then engulfed her in a hug. Aliruko smiled widely and laughed, rapping on the door once and Kaori turned forward. The doors opened and every member of the village turned to look at her.
Taking a deep breath, Kaori stepped into the hall.
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Felice stood on the metal boat, her five year old body shaking. She was dressed differently, not in her usual casual garb. Most of the time she walked around in red dresses and black pants, but now… Now armor plated her chest and shoulders, her elbows and knees. As the boat came closer, a guard stepped forward and slid a helmet onto her head. It was almost too big, but Felice didn't seem to notice. She stared forward, at the village they were approaching.
The boat came to a slow stop in the sand and Felice stepped out onto the land. The village was full of life and joy, she could see that. She could see women out with their children, laughing, smiling. She could see boys and girls running around, chasing bugs or balls. Men carried lumber from place to place, chatted with one another.
She stared out at a life that she had never known and for a moment, her eyes teared up. They all looked so happy; this wasn't what her life was like, but why? Why couldn't she look like them too? Her little hands curled up into fists and she closed her eyes. This was her mission. This was what her master had sent her to do. If she didn't do this, then he would be angry- and if she did do this…then…maybe he would let her have a friend. Maybe if she did this, he would be proud of her and love her and let her have a life like this.
Felice opened her golden eyes, staring at the village. She would have a life like this if she made her master proud. Taking a deep breath, she stepped towards the village.
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Kaori walked down the center of the aisle, her smile so wide and her eyes shining. Everyone watched her, smiles of their own on their faces- they couldn't help it, she looked so beautiful and happy. Kaori could see Zuko at the end, that's what she walked towards, that's who the end was and she loved him. Kaori walked slowly, her dress trailing behind her.
All her life, she had been waiting for this and all her life, she hadn't known she would feel this happy. This boy- no, this man- had come into her life with no announcement and without a word of notice. She remembered seeing him on the beach, scowling at him for laying on her moon plant. She remembered the way he looked when she had turned him over, checking to see if he was still breathing before she called for help to bring him to her palace. Helpless…vulnerable…and broken. She had decided right then that she would be the one to fix him; she hadn't known why, but she had to be the one.
They had gone through so much hurt and loss together and yet in between those were cracks filled with joy and happiness; most of all love. Maybe he hadn't known it, but she had been a little broken, too.
Looking into his eyes now as he watched her approach the front, she knew that he had been the one meant to fix her.
When she got to the front, Kaori turned and looked at her people for a moment. Her friends…her very, very large family. They had always stood beside her. From the front row, she saw Uncle Iroh smiling at them, tears running down his face. She gave him a wide smile before turning to Zuko.
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There were so many screams around her, Felice could barely think. And yet, her body was moving all on it's own; she hadn't known she could move like this, that she could move without any thought. Her arms struck out, throwing flame onto buildings and she watched them fall to the ground. People ran, screaming that the devil had arrived in the form of a child.
When they ran from her, Felice struck them down, watching them fall, blood pooling around them. One man ran towards her, a scythe in his hands. His eyes were crazy and wild, determined to protect his home from the invader. Felice was small, though, and quick- she had been taught how to move by masters of the art. She flicked out her own blade from her side and rammed it into his side, coming in at an angle from his armpit, directed right towards his heart.
The man froze, blood bubbling in his mouth before he fell to the ground. She swung around quickly, grabbing another rman who came at her in the stomach with her blade. He gasped and fell, grabbing onto the open wound and screaming.
Blood soaked the clothes that showed beneath her armor and yet Felice carried on. This was her mission. Leave none alive, leave nothing standing. She hated these people for having the life she didn't have; the life that she wanted. What made them deserve it and her not?
After a moment, Felice stopped and looked around. There were people everywhere, lying in blood that soaked into the ground. The buildings burned, flames flicking up towards the sky. With stiff movements, Felice turned and headed back onto the boat that was still waiting for her.
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Kaori listened to the head of the council talk about love and about life and yet she knew that what she felt was greater than his words. She looked over at Zuko, her eyes tearing up at the sight of his smile. He took her hand slowly, slipping a ring onto her finger and Kaori looked up at him, sliding a ring onto his own finger. Zuko placed a hand gently on her cheek while the village members stood up, cheering and crying, hugging one another at this happy event. Uncle Iroh even swept Aliruko into a giant hug, twirling her around.
And yet, Kaori didn't watch any of that. She looked into Zuko's golden eyes as he stroked her cheek. She would love this man forever, she knew that. The island had known that they needed each other and it had brought them together.
Leaning forward, Zuko pressed a kiss against her lips; their first kiss as husband and wife. Kaori smiled against his lips, kissing him back, which brought on only more applause. She turned to her people, Zuko doing so as well, and laughed. People got out of their seats, coming over to her and Zuko, hugging them both.
Never before on the island had there been such a joyous moment. Kaori squeezed Zuko's hand, glancing over at him as another villager hugged her. He saw her mouth that she loved him and he mouthed it back, watching her laugh.
Neither of them could possibly know that as their celebration went on, moments of laughter and love, a little girl sank to her knees in the corner of a cold, metal ship, buried her face in blood stained hands, and sobbed.