Behind These Painted Masks

Chapter 15

Proper Burial

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"Azula." Sokka's voice was cold, and he immediately stepped in front of Sakora as if to hide her from Azula's gaze.

"Sokka." She replied coolly approaching the bars, "It's nice to see you again." Sokka didn't say anything and remained silent while glaring at her.

"What do you want Azula?" Toph asked rudely walking slowly towards the firebender.

"Nothing, I just wanted to see how my favourite prisoners are doing," she let a nail drag across the bars making a screeching noise as she did it. Toph clamped her hands over her sensitive ears, "Is that really such a crime?"

"Azula, leave." Sokka ground the words past clenched teeth.

"Or what? You'll kill me?" she cackled but obliged and walked out of the room, being careful to slam the door on the way out.

"Dammit." Toph turned to Sokka, "What are we going to do Sokka? You're the idea guy."

"Toph," he looked at her, "This time, I have no idea."

"Zuko?!" she stared at him and he stared right back, a blush of shame creeping to his cheeks, "You're the Blue Spirit?"

"Yeah." He nodded; Katara took a deep breath before raising her right hand and bringing it across his face. The slap resounded in the huge room while Zuko's face turned red and Katara's body was shaking from fury.

"Why?" she managed to force out after a few moments of stunned silence from the Prince.

"Katara I shouldn't have lied to you," Zuko was talking frantically, "But you can hate me later, Azula killed Piando, Fat and she took your brother! We have to go now!" he wiggled to emphasis his point but Katara's ice was too strong.

"Are you sure she took my brother?"

"I'm positive, now get this ice off me!" Katara scowled but with a flick of her wrist the water melted off Zuko and with a wave of her arm back into her water pouch.

As Zuko rubbed his wrist Katara searched for the whistle to call Appa. They silence was awkward, angry and thick. Zuko couldn't think of anything to say that could possibly calm the waterbender nor did he think he would've if he had thought of something. Katara on the other hand had thousands of curses, emotions and thoughts going through her head, but since there were more pressing issues at mind she grudgingly accepted glaring and not talking to him until her brother was saved.

The whistle cut through the air and moments later, Appa was outside the window roaring slightly. Katara walked over and scrambled onto his back, not offering a hand to Zuko, when she looked to see if he was on she saw that he was still on the ground, "Zuko, hurry up." She said bluntly.

"We can't just leave the bodies here." Zuko said gesturing at Piando and his butler.

"What do you want to do about it?"

Zuko looked thoughtful, "In the Fire Nation we burn our people. It grants them the path to Agni."

Katara nodded and Zuko stepped forwards, pulling Piando's body towards the white lotus and putting Fat's right beside his master. After a few muttered prayers, Zuko's hand lashed forward and with a giant burst of flames he lit the two bodies in flames.

The mood was quiet as the Prince, waterbender and flying bison flew into the night, leaving behind a burning light.

As they flew towards the capital small lights could be seen peaking out of windows in the countryside and as the Palace came into view as a sparkling light even Katara forgot her anger for a moment in the sheer beauty of the Palace. Appa circled for a few minutes, using the clouds for cover until they decided to land in a field a few miles from the Palace. A few koala-sheep bahed as Appa descended with a soft 'thump'.

"We're walking?" Katara asked looking at the far-off Palace.

As an answer Zuko pulled on a cloak and began walking towards the Palace. Katara pulled her own hood up and whispered to Appa to stay where he is before running after Zuko. Both refused to talk as they walked towards the capital the sun rising behind their back as they made their way.

Guards patrolled ever corner of the city, the white masks shielding their identities. Zuko and Katara kept their heads down as they wandered through the barren streets towards the Palace. When they finally reached the inner Palace Zuko grabbed Katara's hand and roughly led her to a small doorway, "Servant's entrance," he explained opening the door cautiously, "I really don't think we should walk right in."

Katara nodded and they both walked into the small kitchen. It was completely silent, no servant, no boiling water a hot cup of tea and as they opened the door to the rest of the Palace they realized the whole Palace was empty.

"Zuko, I don't like the feeling of this." Katara said despite of herself, "It's feels like someone is watching."

"That would be me." A voice said from behind a pillar. A girl not much older than Katara appeared a blade swinging around a black nail. Her black hair was straight and her outfit had hardly changed since the last time she had seen her. This thing that made Katara realize who it was however was not the girl's appearance but her voice. It was the same, bored, uncaring, hating voice it had been three years ago.

"Mai."

"Yeah," she yawned, "It's me."

"Katara, go find your brother and Toph."

"But Zuko,"

"I said go." He interrupted, "This is my battle."

Katara looked as if she was going to object but seemed to think better of it and ran off down a hallway leaving the two ex-lovers alone.

"It's good to see you Mai," Zuko spat while drawing his broadswords, "I guess Azula's back then?"

"Yeah," the blade stopped spinning, "She said something about me stopping you."

"Well here I am," Zuko brought his broadswords down in a giant arc, from the arc flew red flames towards Mai who jumped out of the way avoiding most of the fire.

A/N

Okay so I'll finished this story, then Taming of the Wolf and then Summer Vacation.